Water bills: millions of households in England could face even bigger rises

Five water companies – Anglian, Northumbrian, Southern, Wessex and South East – appealed to the Competition and Markets Authority. Photograph: Martin Godwin/The Guardian

Millions of households in England face the prospect of even bigger water bill increases than originally expected, as the competition regulator prepares to give a preliminary verdict on industry spending plans as soon as this week.

Five water companies appealed to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to ask for permission to raise bills higher than allowed previously by the industry regulator, Ofwat.