Water debt and disconnection

Authors: Alicia Herbert, Elaine Kempson
Funded by: Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Published by: Policy Studies Institute
Publication date: March 1995
Report number: PSI Research Report 799
ISBN: 0853746567

During 1994, about 2 million households fell into arrears with their water bills, and 12,500 ended up disconnected from their water supply.

This study analysed the reasons why households in the 1990s faced these difficulties and how the water companies responded to them. It described the circumstances of people who were cut off from their supply and how they managed without water. Finally, it explored a range of policies and strategies to tackle the problem of water debt and disconnection. The study concluded that water debt had become such a widespread problem it would need co-ordinated effort by all those involved to ensure no-one was denied access to this essential service because they were unable to pay.

Water debt and disconnection (Findings Summary) (PDF, 94kB)