Man protests bill increases outside Southern Water HQ

He said he has been visiting the company's offices in Durrington since October to carry out protests due to “the cost of water”.

The Southern Water customer, who travels to the site from north Hampshire, said he is finding it “very expensive” and, due to this, has been forced to use money from his retirement fund to pay.

The man, who asked not to be named, said: “I am finding it very expensive at home and I am sure a lot of other people are feeling the pinch as well. It seems to be too much of a hike.

“It’s a natural commodity but we pay a fortune for it.

A man who has been forced to use his retirement fund to pay his water bills has been protesting outside Southern Water headquarters (Image: Supplied)

“We did not cause their problems.

“The public should not have to pay for something that is not their fault.”

He said he does not qualify for a payment scheme with Southern Water due to his savings.

Discounts are available on water bills for those on low incomes, however, those with savings above £16,000 do not qualify, as dictated by the Department for Work and Pensions.

He added: “If you have savings, you do not count, which I think is pretty bad.

“I am saving up for my retirement. I am digging into my retirement fund and I do not think that’s fair.”

He protests outside the headquarters every Friday between 2pm and 4pm and has welcomed others to join him.

A man who has been forced to use his retirement fund to pay his water bills has been protesting outside Southern Water headquarters (Image: Supplied)

“The message I wanted to convey is that you can protest,” he said.

“If you want change, you have got to stand up to the big boys.

“Anyone in the area is welcome to come down and join me.”

A spokesman for Southern Water said: “We do our best to help anyone struggling to pay their bills, and continue to support more than 175,000 customers through bill discounts of up to 90 per cent.

“Qualifying applicants must have less than £16,000 in savings, a threshold set by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for all means-tested benefits to ensure funding can be targeted at those in greatest need.”

From April 2025 the average household Southern Water bill for combined water and wastewater rose by 46.7 per cent, from £1.31 per day to £1.93 per day.

For the average household, fresh water only bills went up by 40 per cent from £0.55 per day to £0.77 per day and wastewater only bills by 51.5 per cent from £0.76 per day to £1.15 per day.

Southern Water cited inflation and increased investment as the two key drivers of this increase.