Steep Rise in Water Bills

South West Water customers will be paying an average of over 5 per cent more on their bills from April.

It puts bills for water and sewage at an average £517.

But for  the thirty per cent of unmetered customers bills could go up by an extra 10 per cent.

The rise, which has been agreed by  the industry regulator Ofwat, means the company can continue with its five year investment programme.

Over the next twelve months  it'll be spending £159 million on network improvements and customer services.

The package includes £4million on the Tottiford water treatment works,  improvements to the sewage system in Stonehouse Creek, Plymouth and up to £1million  expanding WaterCare and FreshStart which help customers in need.

The company's Monica Read told Heart about the bill rises