Complaints to the Consumer Council for Water (CCW), an independent watchdog that handles disputes between customers and water companies, have risen sharply. Reports show a year-on-year increase of 84%, the largest jump in the organization’s 20-year history. This surge follows the biggest rise in water bills since the sector was privatized, with households directly contacting water companies also seeing a 56% increase in complaints. The main issues center around rising costs, billing confusion, and affordability. Billing-related complaints to water firms climbed by 72%, while those to the CCW rose by 97%. Water companies have been given permission by Ofwat, the water industry regulator, to raise bills by 36% between 2025 and 2030. A significant portion of this increase is expected to be applied in 2025, with an additional 5.4% average increase starting in April of that year. As a result, complaints about the scale of these hikes increased by 54%, and concerns about affordability jumped by 129%. Many households are also struggling to manage the rising costs, with complaints about the inability to install water meters rising by 464%. There has also been a 49% increase in complaints from people facing debt recovery actions. The CCW evaluated the performance of water companies based on the number of complaints per 10,000 households and the effort needed to resolve them. Thames Water and South West Water scored 'poor' on both measures, making them the lowest-performing companies. In contrast, Portsmouth Water and Bristol Water were the only companies to receive 'good' ratings on both metrics, maintaining their status as the best performers in the sector. Thames Water, which is already struggling with debt, is among five companies provisionally allowed to raise bills further between 2027 and 2030. These include Severn Trent Water, Southern Water, Wessex Water, and South East Water. Recently, Ofwat approved an extra £3.4 billion in spending for these companies by the end of the decade to upgrade infrastructure, accommodate new housing and data centers, and address pollutants known as "forever chemicals" that can contaminate drinking water. This could lead to more unexpected bill increases for customers of these firms, in addition to the rises already in effect since April 2025. The total number of complaints to the CCW rose to 15,115 in the 2025-26 period, up from 8,235 the previous year. Complaints made directly to water companies reached 321,347, a 56% increase. The most common complaints were about incorrect billing, affordability issues, and billing administration problems. CCW chief executive Mike Keil said the figures show widespread dissatisfaction with the water sector and urged companies to be more transparent about how they spend customer money to achieve real improvements. A spokesperson for Water UK, which represents water firms, acknowledged the concern over higher bills but emphasized the need for investment in upgrading infrastructure, securing water supplies, and reducing sewage pollution. They noted that 94% of complaints are resolved early without involving the watchdog. Environment Secretary Angela Eagle shared the public’s frustration, stating the government is committed to ensuring customer money is spent on improving water quality and fixing pipes, not on bonuses or dividends. She called for reforms to protect consumers and ensure they get value for money. David Bird, retail director at Thames Water, apologized for not meeting customer expectations and announced plans to simplify bills. South West Water also acknowledged the need for improvement and outlined steps to reduce repeat contacts and improve communication.