Mike Keil, chief executive of the CCW, said the bill increases would put an “intolerable strain” on the finances of millions of households.
“It’s quite frightening the extent to which water affordability is going to affect people in the future.”
He said a third of households under strain will cut back on essentials “like food shopping” in order to pay their water bill.
“That’s a situation we just can’t let happen,” he added.
Every water company has a scheme which can help reduce your bills if you are on a low income, but eligibility and support varies by company.
The CCW is calling for a single social tariff across England and Wales to end what it calls a “postcode lottery of assistance”.
Mr Keil said current support on offer for customers in the form of social tariffs was “completely inconsistent”.
“We are calling for the current system to be revamped and replaced with a much more fair system of social tariffs so it is consistent across England and Wales, which means that everyone who is struggling can be assured that that safety net is in place and support is there if they need it,” he said.
He says a single social tariff would be funded centrally and distributed where the need is greatest.
“Water companies committed back in 2019, as part of a public interest commitment, to end water poverty by 2030, and this single social tariff is the best way to do that,” he said.
Ofwat and the Environment Agency are still continuing with investigations into all water companies in England and Wales after sewage spills into England’s lakes, rivers and seas more than doubled in 2023.
Mr Keil said customers wanted to see investment but also “need to see evidence their money is being well spent” to repair trust in water firms.
