HOUSEHOLDS are facing steep rises in their water bills, it emerged yesterday.

Suppliers want to raise bills to fund nearly £22bn-worth of maintenance and improvements.

Consumer groups have criticised the proposed increases, arguing poorer customers will be hard hit.

Water UK, which represents water suppliers, yesterday announced the industry was pressing ahead with plans to raise bills by almost 30 per cent between 2005 and 2010.

The threat of steep rises in bills was highlighted in The Northern Echo in August last year.

The move would mean households that currently pay £240 a year will pay £310 by 2010.

Yorkshire Water company Kelda said the average household water and sewage bills were likely to rise from £236 to £285.

Northumbrian Water is proposing a £54 rise to £276.

The figures exclude inflation.

The water companies said they needed almost £22bn between 2005 and 2010 for capital investment such as maintaining and updating ageing pipes, improving water quality and the environment and planning for additional consumer demand.

Maurice Terry, the chairman of WaterVoice, said: ''Price rises on this scale will risk worsening the industry's mounting debt problems and drive thousands of customers into debt for the first time.

''It is going to be even worse in some regions, where the rises will be substantially above the national average."

Pete Bowler, campaigns officer at WaterWatch, said: ''Water customers are being fleeced. Privatisation of the water industry has not benefited customers because the investment we have seen could have been funded at a much lower cost if the industry had still been in public ownership."

Philip Fletcher, of Ofwat, said the average 29 per cent rise for companies was inevitable.

He said: "The 29 per cent average is the companies' figures. This is before Ofwat has done its scrutinising. But I am afraid, given the pressures on the companies, I do see it likely that prices will go up. They may go up significantly.

"I understand customers' resentment to increases, but I would look at what the companies are doing with the money. They are trying to ensure that customers continue to get good quality water, a guaranteed supply and continue to improve the environment."