Firms accused of forcing households to pay for years of underinvestment after Ofwat agrees to increases to help fix sector

• Thames Water to pay £18m penalty after breaking dividend rules

Water bills in England and Wales will rise by 36% over the next five years, as suppliers were accused of forcing struggling households to pay for years of underinvestment to fix leaky pipes and cut pollution.

The industry regulator Ofwat said on Thursday that, from next April, it would allow companies to raise average bills will rise by £31 a year, or £157 in total, over the next five years to £597 by 2030 to help pay for investment. That represents a 36% increase before inflation, which will be added on top.