RESIDENTS across East Renfrewshire and Renfrewshire are to be hit with a 1.6% rise in household water charges.

Scottish Water confirmed the increase will be imposed from April 1.

It will mean the average charge for water in 2019/20 will be £369, with the average household paying almost £7 more over the course of the year.

The water charge is separate from council tax.

Local authority chiefs have yet to set council tax rates for 2019/20.

Scottish Water has said its household charges will remain among the lowest in Great Britain.

Douglas Millican, the organisation's chief executive, added: “We maintain many thousands of miles of pipes and vital infrastructure through which our water and waste water services are delivered but we’re also investing in our network – more than £600million annually – to make sure it is as robust and resilient as it can be for decades to come.

“We are focused on ensuring customer service is the best it can be while providing value for money, stability and certainty in charge levels.

“While seeking to provide that stability and certainty in domestic charges, we are also looking to the future and plan to deliver further improvements to drinking water quality and environmental performance."

Water charges for those living in Band A properties in 2019/20 will be £296, up by £4.56, while those in Band H homes will pay £888, up by £13.68.

The charges for other properties are (Band B) £346; (Band C) £395, (Band D) £444, (Band E) £543, (Band F) £642 and (Band G) £740.