Water rates Scotland: what every band pays in 2026/27
There's no separate water bill in Scotland. Scottish Water's charge comes on your council tax bill, set by your band and the same in every council.
By Graeme · Published 29 October 2026 · 5 min read
Last updated · Figures checked
Quick answer · Water rates Scotland 2026/27
£652.32a year at Band D
Scottish Water's charge for water and waste water, collected on your council tax bill. It depends on your band and is the same in every council.
- Band A
- £434.88 a year
- Band B
- £507.36 a year
- Band C
- £579.84 a year
- Band D
- £652.32 a year
- Band E
- £797.28 a year
- Band F
- £942.24 a year
- Band G
- £1,087.20 a year
- Band H
- £1,304.64 a year
1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027Source Scottish Water
On this page
In Scotland you don't get a separate water bill. Scottish Water charges for your water and for taking waste water away, the amount depends on your council tax band, and your council collects it on the council tax bill. For 2026/27 a Band D home pays £652.32.
Water rates in Scotland by band for 2026/27
People still call them water rates. Officially they're Scottish Water's unmetered household charges, and there are two parts: water supply and waste water collection. These are the charges from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027.
2026/27
Water and waste water charges by band
| Band | Water | Waste water | Total a year | About a month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band A | £201.30 | £233.58 | £434.88 | £36.24 |
| Band B | £234.85 | £272.51 | £507.36 | £42.28 |
| Band C | £268.40 | £311.44 | £579.84 | £48.32 |
| Band D | £301.95 | £350.37 | £652.32 | £54.36 |
| Band E | £369.05 | £428.23 | £797.28 | £66.44 |
| Band F | £436.15 | £506.09 | £942.24 | £78.52 |
| Band G | £503.25 | £583.95 | £1,087.20 | £90.60 |
| Band H | £603.90 | £700.74 | £1,304.64 | £108.72 |
If you're not sure which band you're in, you can check your council tax band free by postcode.
The same in every council
Council tax changes from one council to the next. Water doesn't. A Band D home pays £652.32 for water in Shetland and exactly the same in Glasgow.
Because council tax varies, water makes up a bigger slice of the bill in some places than others. At Band D it's 30.8% of the full bill in South Lanarkshire, where the total is lowest, and 26.4% in Midlothian, where it's highest. It's also why figures you see elsewhere often look too low. They quote the council tax and leave the water out.
How much water rates went up this year
Every band went up by 8.6% on last year. At Band D that's £51.93 more, from £600.39 in 2025/26 to £652.32 now.
2025/26 to 2026/27
The rise in water charges
| Band | 2025/26 | 2026/27 | Rise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band A | £400.26 | £434.88 | £34.62 (8.6%) |
| Band B | £466.97 | £507.36 | £40.39 (8.6%) |
| Band C | £533.68 | £579.84 | £46.16 (8.6%) |
| Band D | £600.39 | £652.32 | £51.93 (8.6%) |
| Band E | £733.81 | £797.28 | £63.47 (8.6%) |
| Band F | £867.23 | £942.24 | £75.01 (8.6%) |
| Band G | £1,000.65 | £1,087.20 | £86.55 (8.6%) |
| Band H | £1,200.78 | £1,304.64 | £103.86 (8.6%) |
The council tax part went up by different amounts in each council. The council tax increase page has every one.
Help with water charges
Most discounts on your council tax come off the water charges as well. Your council sorts that out, not Scottish Water.
- Live alone? The 25% single person discount comes off the water and waste water too.
- On a low income? Council Tax Reduction doesn't cover water. Even if your council tax drops to nothing, you still pay for water. But anyone getting it can get up to 35% off the water charges through the . You don't apply. The council does it for you.
- All students? Full time students don't pay water charges, so a home where everyone is a full time student pays none.
- Adapted for a disabled person? If your council charges you one band lower because of a disability, the water charge drops to that lower band too.
£282.67
Band A water with the full 35% reduction
Down from £434.88 a year. This is the most the takes off.
Not on mains water or sewers?
You only pay for the services you get. If your home isn't connected to the public water supply, there should be no water charge. If it has a septic tank and nothing drains to a public sewer, there should be no waste water charge.
Watch the small print, though. If the septic tank's outflow runs into a public sewer, or rain water from the property drains into one, you can still be for waste water.
If you think you're paying for something you don't get, ask Scottish Water to check. It calls this a verification of service. If your septic tank is registered with SEPA, have that to hand, as it helps. If a charge is taken off with backdated effect and you're up to date with your council tax, you'd normally get a refund. The details are on Scottish Water's charges questions page.
Water meters
You can ask for a water meter and pay for what you use instead. Scottish Water then bills you directly, not through the council.
Think before you switch
Discounts, reductions and exemptions don't apply to metered charges. If you live alone or get , you'd lose that help on your water. Ring Scottish Water first on 0800 0778 778, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
See your whole bill
Put in your postcode and pick your band. You'll see council tax, water and waste water for 2026/27, by the year and by the month.
Check my council tax
