But now, six water firms - Thames Water, Southern Water, Anglian Water, South East Water, Northumbrian Water and Wessex Water - have launched an appeal to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to try and raise bills even higher.
Southern Water has been approved a 53% rise, Anglian Water is being allowed to increase bills by 29%, South East Water has been granted 24%, and Northumbrian Water and Wessex Water bills are going up by 21%.
David Henderson, chief executive of Water UK, said: “Water companies need to invest billions to strengthen and expand infrastructure to support economic growth, secure our water supplies and end sewage entering our rivers and seas.
Water regulator Ofwat is already allowing water firms to increase bills by an average of £157 over the next five years - a rise of 36%.
Six major water firms including Thames Water have launched a bid to charge customers even more than already agreed by the industry regulator.
