Southwark Liberal Democrats are calling on Southwark Council to step up efforts to promote Thames Water’s WaterHelp scheme, which offers households on low incomes a 50% discount on their water bills.
The little-known scheme could save struggling families hundreds of pounds. Yet despite rising costs, many residents are unaware they can apply.
Research by Southwark Council has shown that almost 9,000 households in the borough are in relative poverty, with nearly 5,000 of these reporting that they did not have enough money to eat and drink sufficiently, wash, and heat their homes. This news comes as water and fuel costs have risen in Southwark by more than the rate of inflation.
Commenting, Liberal Democrat Environment Spokesperson Cllr Graham Neale said:
“The Southwark Liberal Democrats are proud to be leading the calls for this scheme to be better publicized by Southwark Council. At a time when the Cost of Living Crisis continues to bite, and whilst nearly 9,000 households in our borough live in poverty, the Council must use every possible lever at its disposal to help residents who are struggling to afford the basic necessity of water.
Water poverty is particularly prominent in my ward of St George’s, where in 2024 close to 10% of residents reported not having enough money for food, heating or water.
We are urging Southwark Council to do more to ensure that everyone who may be eligible for the WaterHelp scheme applies as a matter of urgency in the hope that this will help the most vulnerable families in our Borough to save hundreds of pounds.”
