One in Eight Belgian Households in Water Precarity, Brussels Hit Hardest

One in eight Belgian households is struggling to afford access to quality drinking water, according to a new barometer published Thursday by the King Baudouin Foundation. The study found that 12.4% of households — representing 11.1% of the population — spent an excessive share of their available budget on their water bill in 2024, with the situation most acute in Brussels.

Brussels Remains Most Affected

The Brussels-Capital Region continues to record the highest rate of water precarity in the country, with 23.2% of households affected in 2024, up from 21.9% in 2021. As RTBF reported, the foundation attributes this to “the lowest available incomes and the essentially urban nature of the region (fewer alternative water sources such as rain cisterns or wells).”

Wallonia recorded a notable improvement, with 15.6% of households in water precarity in 2024, down from 19.3% in 2021 — a change the foundation says is “possibly linked to a stabilization of Walloon water tariffs in times of inflation.” Flanders continues to fare best, with 8.5% of households affected, down slightly from 9.1% three years earlier.

A Structural Inequality

The foundation describes water precarity as “a structural reality that primarily affects the most vulnerable households,” revealing “persistent inequalities in access to an essential resource for satisfying basic needs: food, hygiene, housing.”

At-risk profiles include households at risk of poverty (55.7%), households with low work intensity (42%), single-parent families (20.4%), tenants (23.1%), and people reporting poor or very poor health (19.5%). Together, these groups represent 63.9% of households in water precarity.

Housing quality and type are also determining factors. People living in apartments are more affected (20.1%) than those in houses (9.1%), partly due to limited access to alternative water sources such as rainwater collection systems.

Uneven Benefits from Falling Bills

While water bills decreased by an average of 12% (inflation-adjusted) between 2021 and 2024, the foundation notes that this decline has not benefited all households equally. Wealthier households appear to have gained more from the reduction, further widening the gap between income groups.

The barometer, based on SILC 2024 data, was conducted by researchers from ULB (Université Libre de Bruxelles) and UAntwerp (University of Antwerp) at the initiative of the King Baudouin Foundation. This is the second dedicated edition of the water precarity barometer; the first, published in December 2023 and based on 2021 data, showed a national rate of 13.8%.

Regional Support Mechanisms Differ

Administrative data highlights distinct regional approaches to protecting water users. In Flanders, a social water tariff exists for certain vulnerable groups, and the use of flow limiters has increased significantly — from 777 in 2021 to 1,915 in 2024 — helping to limit water cutoffs. Wallonia operates a Social Water Fund supporting social assistance beneficiaries, with flow limiters becoming rare. In Brussels, water cutoffs are prohibited and flow limiters are non-existent, though a Social Water Fund is also in place.

Climate Change Adds Urgency

The report’s release comes amid intense heat episodes across Belgium during summer 2026. The foundation emphasizes that ensuring affordable access to water is becoming an “essential issue” in a context marked by climate change and the multiplication of heat episodes.

What’s Next

The findings underscore the structural nature of water precarity in Belgium. As BRUZZ noted, the foundation describes water precarity as “a powerful indicator of broader social inequality.” With Brussels water prices rising by 12.5% in 2026 through Vivaqua — adding roughly €40 per year to household bills — the pressure on vulnerable households is likely to intensify. The foundation intends to maintain attention on this often-overlooked issue and encourage the development of solutions adapted to the most fragile households.