UK ministers explore raising price of water for some users amid shortages

The Guardian Environment Thursday 10 September 2026, 11:14 UTC By Pippa Neill Environment reporter 1 min read

Key Points

Environment Agency says talks under way about increasing prices for industrial users to try to reduce poor water managementMinisters are exploring making water more expensive for some users, in the face of severe supply shortages. Despite the UK being a famously wet country, the precarious nature of the water supply has been made particularly acute this summer, with almost three-quarters of England and all of Wales in drought and 27 million people facing restrictions on their water use.

Environment Agency says talks under way about increasing prices for industrial users to try to reduce poor water management

Ministers are exploring making water more expensive for some users, in the face of severe supply shortages.

Despite the UK being a famously wet country, the precarious nature of the water supply has been made particularly acute this summer, with almost three-quarters of England and all of Wales in drought and 27 million people facing restrictions on their water use.

UK (LOCATION) Environment Agency (ORG) England (LOCATION) Wales (LOCATION)

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UK ministers explore raising price of water for some users amid shortages

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