HOUSEHOLDS across Scotland are set to pay more for their water and waste water services for 2023 and 2024.

The charge from Scottish Water would see an average rise of 37p per week, which is five per cent above current charges, come into force from April this year.

This charge is collected alongside residents' council tax.

Douglas Millican, chief executive of Scottish Water, the fourth largest water and waste water services provider in the UK, said: “Our core services play a vital role in the daily lives of millions of people in Scotland.

“Our responsibility as a publicly funded body is focused on providing excellent service and water quality and reducing our impact on the environment on which we depend.

“The charges for 2023/24 have been set at a level which recognises the need for significant future investment to protect services, and the current economic challenges faced by many.

“Charge levels in the future are likely to rise to meet our strategic objectives, meet the needs of our customers and to transform services so they become as environmentally and financially-sustainable as possible.”

For 2023/24, the charges for water and waste water services will be determined by your council tax band.

The charges for water and waste water services raise around £1 billion, and supports the services provided by the utility.

Scottish Water serves 2.6 million homes, supplies more than 1.5 billion litres of water, and treats more than one billion litres of used and surface water on a daily basis.

Scottish Water says that further investment is needed "to deal with ageing infrastructure and the impacts of the changing climate".

A five per cent charge increase will also be applied to licensed providers who supply businesses and non-domestic customers.