Water bills are to fall, says South West Water.

The utility said this morning that it is keeping its ’Price Promise’ to keep average household bill rises below inflation to the end of the decade. 

Its average bill for water and waste water services in 2017/18 will be £491, a fall of 1%. From April 1 the average household bill will reduce from £497 as domestic customers continue to receive the £50 Government Contribution. 

This follows a price freeze and a series of bill reductions and below inflationary rises in recent years.

South West Water says it is the only water and sewerage company to reduce its average bill in 2017/18. 

The company plans to spend around £170 million in the coming year on service improvements.

Investment highlights for 2017/18, which will help sustain around 6,000 jobs in the region, include improvements to reduce interruptions to supply and water discolouration, increased renewable energy production from sludge treatment facilities and ongoing development of joint schemes with other flood authorities to prevent sewer flooding and pollution.

South West Water’s managing director Stephen Bird said: ’We’re responding to our customers and keeping bills down while making improvements in areas that matter most to them. 

’We’re using new technology and more innovative ways of working to deliver a more efficient service while spending about £1 billion in the five-year period to 2020.’