Brits could be forced into having water metres installed in their home, it has been reported.
Rules state that water companies can make households install metres in areas where there is a water shortage.
Now eight new areas of the UK have been named as places at risk of running low, meaning 6million Brits could have a metre fitted.
The Telegraph reports these are:
- Cambridge Water
- Portsmouth Water
- South Staffordshire Water
- Severn Trent Water, Veolia Water
- Wessex Water
- Southern West Water (Bournemouth and Isles of Scilly)
And households that refuse to have it fitted could see £200 added onto their yearly bill.
However, a spokesperson for the Consumer Council for Water said the companies should take action to fix leaks in supplies.
A Public Accounts Committee report recently found a fifth of all country's water supply is lost to leaks in every day.
And the leaks are so widespread that the report claims some parts of England could run out of water in the next 20 years.
It comes as one in three Brits fear the cost of living will make their current lifestyle unaffordable.
A study of 2,000 adults found nearly 77% are "concerned" about rising inflation.
Meanwhile around 55% have already tried to offset rising costs by giving up luxuries or reducing non-essential spending.
Inflation rose to 5.4% in December – a 30-year-high – and is predicted to hit as much as 7% this year.
Rising energy costs mean bills are also on the up, and many face a planned National Insurance hike in the coming months.
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