GARETH DAVIES MS, Senedd Member for Vale of Clwyd, has today written to Dŵr Cymru’s Chief Executive, Peter Perry, demanding urgent answers over the recently announced 27% increase in water bills for the 2025-26 period. The rise, which will see the average household bill rise from £503 to £639, has sparked widespread concern among residents in Denbighshire.
Gareth has received a flurry of emails from distressed constituents, many of whom are already struggling to keep up with rising costs of living, including rising food, energy, and housing expenses. He has highlighted that this hike will disproportionately impact pensioners on fixed incomes, low-income families, and households already feeling the squeeze from recent tax rises.
He also drew attention to the fact that Denbighshire has an older population than the Welsh average, meaning many of his constituents are pensioners with limited financial flexibility. The average salary being lower in Denbighshire is also cited by Gareth to argue that residents in the county have less disposable income than other areas and they will be particularly impacted by the price rise.
In his letter, Gareth has requested that Dŵr Cymru justify why such a sharp rise is necessary in a single year and to explain how customers will benefit from this increase in terms of improvements to the delivery of service. He has also raised serious concerns about continued sewage discharges into Welsh rivers and coastal waters, questioning how much of the additional revenue will be invested in tackling this environmental issue.
He has also called for greater transparency from Dŵr Cymru, urging them to provide clear communication to customers on why such a steep increase is needed and how it will be used to enhance water services across Wales.
Commenting, Gareth added: “A 27% hike in water bills is a huge blow to my constituents, many of whom are already struggling to make ends meet, so I have written to Dŵr Cymru’s Chief Executive for answers.
“With Denbighshire’s average salary lower than the Welsh national average and a large number of pensioners living on fixed incomes, this increase will hit the most vulnerable the hardest, forcing people to make impossible choices.
“Dŵr Cymru needs to be upfront with customers as people deserve clear answers on why such a sharp increase is necessary and how it will improve their service.”
