Anglian Water customers will soon see even more work getting underway on the biggest ever upgrade to the region’s water networks as the company gets set to deliver its largest-ever single year of investment.

From April, £1.6 billion of improvements are set to be made to the region’s water and sewerage infrastructure, representing a 9% increase on the 2025/26 financial year and making this the company’s largest ever year of investment.. The investment will deliver brand new infrastructure and upgrades to improve performance that will deliver on the promises made to customers, while building more resilience against the impacts of climate change. The Anglian Water region is one of the driest and fastest growing regions in the country, and water is crucial to enable homes, businesses and community organisations – and the East of England’s economy – to thrive.

Regionwide schemes set to be delivered by 2030 include:

• • The flagship Strategic Pipeline, which will transport water from wetter parts of the company’s region in the north, to the drier areas in the south and east that need it most.
  • Replacing 1000km of water mains across the region, preventing disruption for customers by making the water network more resilient to leaks and bursts. The water company sends nearly a billion litres of clean and healthy drinking water to its customers each and every day, and in order to achieve this, the infrastructure needs maintenance and investment to ensure the taps can keep running over the next few decades.
  • A £47 million investment to build 35 new storm tanks across the East of England. These new tanks will significantly increase stormwater storage capacity, meaning sites can store excess flows during heavy rainfall to be treated later. This will prevent untreated water from entering rivers and coastal areas, protecting the East of England’s precious natural environment.

As well as preparing for the record-breaking second year of investment, Anglian Water and its delivery partners have made significant progress on the £1.1 billion of investment being delivered in the first year of the plan.

Since April 2025, construction teams have broken ground on more than 850 capital delivery schemes, meaning Anglian Water is on course to deliver its colossal five-year business plan, worth a total £11 billion.

One of its most iconic projects is securing water resources for future generations. Pipelaying on the entire southern section of its Strategic Pipeline is now complete, with all 127 kilometres  in the ground. The water company opened consultation for a new, interconnecting pipeline from Grafham to Cambridge, and completed the third round of consultation for the proposed Fens Reservoir. Its industry‑leading smart meter programme continues at pace, positioning Anglian Water as the sector’s frontrunner. With more than 1.3 million meters already deployed, more than 60% of customers are now connected and saving both water and money through their smart meter.

Building on a massive programme of work to improve pollution performance and protect the region’s natural environment, the water company has gone even further in 2025, with the East of England now having the cleanest bathing waters in the country, and expected blockages cut by 58% in hotspot areas.

Keeping bills affordable and supporting customers

Major projects, such as upgrading pipes and treatment works, cost a lot upfront. Rather than passing that full cost on immediately, water companies spread it over many years – just as you would repay a mortgage. This approach keeps bills affordable, and ensures fairness so future customers who benefit also contribute.

This year, average customer bills are expected to rise by 7%, making the average bill for next year around £1.85 per day (up from £1.72).

Recognising that any increase in bills can be difficult to manage in the current climate, Anglian’s plans include a £106 million package of support for customers. It builds on an already leading support package and will help those who need it most to get the financial support they need, including signposting customers to unclaimed benefits, offering reduced-rate tariffs and setting up temporary payment plans. In addition, Anglian Water is the first company in the water sector to be awarded a ‘Mental Health Accessible’ accreditation, reflecting the steps taken by the water company to support customers who might be struggling with their mental health.

Don Maher, Director of Customer and Operational Services for Anglian Water, said:

“We do everything we can to keep our bills affordable, and water bills are still one of the cheapest household bills. But delivering the services and environmental protections that we know customers expect to see does mean we need to spend more on that infrastructure today. We’re building for better – for the communities we serve and to protect our environment, now and for generations to come.   

“We know money is tight for many people at the moment, and we want our customers to know that we’re here to help. Our specially-trained teams* help more than 300,000 people every year with support that’s tailored to their needs through our WaterCare programme: from reducing or spreading out water bills, to signposting customers to benefits they might not have known they were eligible for. We also offer several tariffs designed to help customers with the cost of water, such as our Medical Needs Tariff, funded by shareholders, and our discounted LITE tariff. So, whatever your circumstances are, if you’re worried about paying your bills, please get in touch. The sooner we talk, the sooner we can help.”

Since the ExtraCare assessment was introduced, the team has signposted customers to more than £34 million of potentially unclaimed benefits, with some customers potentially being eligible for extra benefits following Anglian Water’s assessment**.

Any customers who are struggling to pay their bills are encouraged to contact Anglian Water via its website, or social media accounts, or calling its Extra Care Team directly on 0800 169 3630.

Video content about our capital delivery programme is available here.

*Anglian Water’s specially-trained ExtraCare teams can curate personalised plans for customers, designed to support them where they need it most. Team members have been trained by representatives from the Samaritans, and the company also partners with Reach:Out, a specialist organisation which helps people find a pathway through financial challenges.

**Anglian Water’s Customer Vulnerability Strategy 2025, p26