Water Voice Barometer & Spotlight report – August 2026

Our monthly Barometer & Spotlight survey reports capture the views of our Water Voice communities on their water companies, the services they receive and the challenges facing the water sector.

The findings highlight the issues that matter most to community members, helping to inform discussions with their water companies at Accountability Sessions.

Spotlight survey

The Spotlight survey explores a specific issue or theme affecting the water sector, with a different topic each month.

August 2026’s Spotlight survey focused on the upcoming autumn Accountability Sessions.

Community members provided feedback on their water company’s performance and progress against previous Accountability Session action plans. Their views will help to identify potential topics for the Accountability Sessions taking place in October and November, and will be refined further in the next survey wave.

Key findings:

• After reviewing a fact sheet outlining their water company’s performance across a range of measures, 46% of community members rated their provider’s performance positively.
• When asked how they felt about their company’s progress on its Accountability Session action plans, 44% of community members said they felt positive. Improvements in communication are the most visible sign of progress, with people noticing clearer bills, websites, customer information and engagement. However, community members want to see more tangible and sustained improvements in key priority areas, including leakage, pollution, infrastructure, value for money and supply resilience.

Barometer survey

The Barometer survey tracks community members’ attitudes towards their water company and the services they receive over time.

Overview:

• Resilience and reliability remain key concerns – community members frequently raise concerns about leaks, low water pressure, drought, hosepipe bans and whether water companies are investing enough to protect future water supplies.
• Customers want stronger accountability for performance – concerns around sewage pollution, rising bills, executive pay and poor communication are closely linked to calls for clearer evidence that money is being spent on meaningful service and environmental improvements.