HAMPSHIRE householders are set to become the first in the country to pay more for their water in the summer.

Between June and September, Southern Water customers will pay a higher rate every time they water the garden, have a shower or turn on the tap.

The “seasonal tariff” has been introduced because of a looming water shortage across the county.

Southern Water hopes it will encourage residents to use less water in the warmer, drier months.

The firm last night insisted the average water bill, which is about £373 a year, would not rise over the course of a year.

They say this is because they plan to drop the price of water in the winter months, between October and March.

“The tariff is not designed to penalise customers. Because the winter tariff goes down slightly, the charges should even themselves out if water use remains steady,” a Southern Water spokesman said.

However, the Consumer Council for Water warned it could hit households that are heavy water users, such as a large family with a big garden.

South-east spokesman Karen Gibbs said: “We will be watching this very closely. It could benefit some people, while others could end up paying more.”

Only homes with new automated meter reading water meters will be charged the seasonal tariff.

Their compulsory street-bystreet installation in thousands of homes across Hampshire is set to begin in June.

Over the next five years every home in Southampton, Winchester, Eastleigh, Romsey and the Waterside will be metered.

Seasonal tariffs are already being trialled by seven different water companies, but Southern Water is the first to introduce it permanently.

The new summer rate – which applies only to water charges, and not waste water – will be 99.9p per cubic metre, while in winter the rate will drop to 92.2p. Homes without the new meters will, for now, continue to pay 94p per cubic metre throughout the year.

Meter readings will be taken twice a year and the customer’s bill will be adjusted depending on how much water they have used.

The plan has the support of the Environment Agency, which has pressured Southern Water to drastically cut how much water it takes from the River Itchen.

Ofwat, the water regulator, said it approved the new charges because of the water resource crisis in the south.

“We encourage companies to consider innovative tariffs when looking for solutions to water resource issues in their area,” an Ofwat spokesman said.

“Seasonal tariffs provide incentives to reduce discretionary water use at peak times.”

The revelation comes just a day after it was confirmed that water bills would rise by five per cent over the next five years.

The average water bill for Hampshire households will increase by £20 to be £393 by 2015, before inflation.

It was £27 lower than what Southern Water asked for, but was one of the highest increases in England and Wales.