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Consumer bodies have criticised the increases
Average household water bills in England and Wales can rise by £46 to £295 a year by 2009, the industry regulator Ofwat has said
The 18% increase is larger than expected, although the figure falls short of the 29% increase demanded by water companies.
Water firms say the extra cash is needed for maintenance and improvement work and environmental projects.
Consumer bodies say help must be given to those already struggling to pay.
Regional variations
Maurice Terry of consumer body WaterVoice said: "This is bad news for the millions of water customers who will find these increases neither affordable nor acceptable.
EXAMPLES OF INCREASES
Sutton and East Surrey Water up 13% from £127 to £143 (water only)
Thames Water up 24% from £210 to £261 (for water and sewerage)
Three Valleys Water up 17% from £118 to £138 (water only)
Yorkshire Water up by £45 to £288 (for water and sewerage)
Dwr Cymru up £65 to £352 (for water and sewerage)
Severn Trent up by £43 to £265 (for water and sewerage)
"The government must act immediately to ensure that customers on low and fixed incomes receive effective help to pay their water bills, through the mainstream tax credits and benefits system."
Dr John Ford of WaterVoice Wales said: "The 2005 increase, averaging 14.2% plus inflation for Welsh Water, is more than six times inflation."
"The government gave its ministerial guidance that the increase should be 'affordable'. Customers on low and fixed incomes will not describe six times inflation as affordable."
The watchdog says the expected average rise also masks large regional variations between different water companies.
The biggest rise will see customers of Southern Water, South West Water and Wessex Water paying an extra 25% over five years on their current average bill.
These decisions... will enable water companies to meet the needs of customers and the environment while continuing to deliver a safe and reliable service
Philip Fletcher, Ofwat
South West Water will have the highest average bill by 2009-10, at £444 a year.
Ofwat has said the increase is needed so pipes, sewers and treatment works can be maintained.
The body also said 3,000 schemes to improve rivers and coastal waters and 500 investigations to inform decisions on future and environmental protection would also require additional funds.
It also said it would need to spend money on alleviating internal flooding from overloaded sewers.
"These decisions... will enable water companies to meet the needs of customers and the environment while continuing to deliver a safe and reliable service," Philip Fletcher, director general of Ofwat's water services said in a statement.
But he admitted that the increases would be unwelcome, "especially to customers on low incomes".
Average household water bills in England and Wales can rise by £46 to £295 a year by 2009, the industry regulator Ofwat has said
The 18% increase is larger than expected, although the figure falls short of the 29% increase demanded by water companies.
Water firms say the extra cash is needed for maintenance and improvement work and environmental projects.
Consumer bodies say help must be given to those already struggling to pay.
Regional variations
Maurice Terry of consumer body WaterVoice said: "This is bad news for the millions of water customers who will find these increases neither affordable nor acceptable.
EXAMPLES OF INCREASES
Sutton and East Surrey Water up 13% from £127 to £143 (water only)
Thames Water up 24% from £210 to £261 (for water and sewerage)
Three Valleys Water up 17% from £118 to £138 (water only)
Yorkshire Water up by £45 to £288 (for water and sewerage)
Dwr Cymru up £65 to £352 (for water and sewerage)
Severn Trent up by £43 to £265 (for water and sewerage)
"The government must act immediately to ensure that customers on low and fixed incomes receive effective help to pay their water bills, through the mainstream tax credits and benefits system."
Dr John Ford of WaterVoice Wales said: "The 2005 increase, averaging 14.2% plus inflation for Welsh Water, is more than six times inflation."
"The government gave its ministerial guidance that the increase should be 'affordable'. Customers on low and fixed incomes will not describe six times inflation as affordable."
The watchdog says the expected average rise also masks large regional variations between different water companies.
The biggest rise will see customers of Southern Water, South West Water and Wessex Water paying an extra 25% over five years on their current average bill.
These decisions... will enable water companies to meet the needs of customers and the environment while continuing to deliver a safe and reliable service
Philip Fletcher, Ofwat
South West Water will have the highest average bill by 2009-10, at £444 a year.
Ofwat has said the increase is needed so pipes, sewers and treatment works can be maintained.
The body also said 3,000 schemes to improve rivers and coastal waters and 500 investigations to inform decisions on future and environmental protection would also require additional funds.
It also said it would need to spend money on alleviating internal flooding from overloaded sewers.
"These decisions... will enable water companies to meet the needs of customers and the environment while continuing to deliver a safe and reliable service," Philip Fletcher, director general of Ofwat's water services said in a statement.
But he admitted that the increases would be unwelcome, "especially to customers on low incomes".
