WATER bills in the Three Valleys area are set to rise by 5.7 per cent above inflation by 2015. Before taking inflation into account, that would mean the average Three Valleys Water (TVW) Company bill increasing from �161 in 2010 to �170 by 2015. The maj

WATER bills in the Three Valleys area are set to rise by 5.7 per cent above inflation by 2015.

Before taking inflation into account, that would mean the average Three Valleys Water (TVW) Company bill increasing from �161 in 2010 to �170 by 2015. The majority of that increase will be next year. These bills do not include the charge for sewerage which householders get in a combined demand.

The figures are contained in TVW's final business plan for 2010 to 2015 which proposes investing �456 million on maintaining its pipe network, improving its resources and meeting tighter drinking water quality standards.

Some of the proposed price increases relate to higher business rates, energy prices and pension costs.

David Bland, chair of the Consumer Council for Water in London and the South East, said: "Much of the work that Three Valleys Water is proposing fits in with consumers' priorities. The proposed overall price increase is higher than customers would have liked but they are an improvement on the company's initial plans.

"When putting together its final plans, Three Valleys Water responded to our consumer research with showed that customers preferred a slower introduction of metering.