The campaign is modelled on the Don’t Pay UK movement of 2022, when some 75,000 people signed up to cancel their utility bills – though the strike was eventually called off when the campaign failed to reach its target of one million signatures.
Take Back Water has learned from that, says Davies: there is no specific trigger threshold or date set to strike, but once a “critical mass of a few tens of thousands more people” sign up, a strike is “inevitable.”
A spokesperson for industry body Water UK declined to comment on the strike – instead reiterating that increasing bills would fund “vital upgrades” to the water network.
What can happen if you refuse to pay your water bill in England?
It is “very risky,” says Gary Rycroft, a solicitor and personal finance writer.
“I have enormous sympathy with people who have frustration with rising bills and the water companies. I live not far from Windermere [where sewage was spilled illegally 140 times in 2024] so I agree on that count,” he told Big Issue. “But as a lawyer, I can’t endorse not paying your water bills.”
Take Back Water points to the historical precedent of the poll tax under Margaret Thatcher’s government in 1990, when more than 17 million people refused to pay.
Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
But water is different, says Rycroft. You’ve signed a legal contract with the water company – and under the Water Act, people who receive clean drinking water have a legal obligation to pay for it.
“You can’t just unilaterally decide, ‘I’m opting out of that’, because it is basically the law of the land that you’ve got to pay,” he continued. “Now, if you don’t pay, the consequences are that the water company can take you to court, because you are going to be building up a debt.”
The fairness of this arrangement is questionable; customers cannot shop around, and must use their regional provider. But the financial consequences are real regardless. Water companies can obtain a county court judgment (CCJ) – a court order stating that you owe money – which can affect your credit rating.
“This has long term potential consequences to the person, say if you want to borrow money in the future, or get a mortgage,” said Rycroft.
Signatory Sophie Power, 29, says she understands the risks. “It definitely does factor in. But I think this is where the sort of power in numbers comes in,” she said. “If enough people do it, it’s not going to have the same sort of financial implications that it would do if you took that action alone.”
The Bristol local said she is happy to pay for water – but not if it goes to “lining the pockets” of shareholders rather than “the quality of our water systems.”
Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
The campaign’s goal is nationalisation – but the government has ruled out taking the water industry into full public ownership, citing an estimated £90bn cost. Campaigners dispute this, pointing out that the figure is based on water industry analysis and overvalues companies significantly. A report by Common Wealth think tank last year put the real cost at “close to zero.”
Power said she wants to use all the levers at her disposal to pressure the government to take nationalisation seriously: “There are other amazing campaigns out there – but nothing seems to be getting to the government.”
Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us more.
Change a vendor’s life this winter.
Buy from your local Big Issue vendor every week – and always take the magazine. It’s how vendors earn with dignity and how we fund our work to end poverty.
You can also support online with a vendor support kit or a magazine subscription. Thank you for standing with Big Issue vendors.
Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
