People in most parts of Wales faced a 27% increase in their water bills from April last year, with the average annual bill going up from £503 to £639.
It marked the start of a five-year period of bill increases from Welsh Water, totalling 42% by 2029-30.
In Carmarthenshire, some people were sceptical about the translation of their money into improvements.
When asked if she would be happy to pay more, Fiona Davies, 59, from Ammanford, said: “I don’t know, we don’t see these changes, do we?”
Nidhi Rana, 31, moved to Llanelli from Scotland last year, and said the level of the bill was a shock, adding: “If they ask me to pay more, you mean, I’m not happy. Definitely not.”
George Cheeseman, 59, from Ammanford, said the water bill was “far too high, especially for what we get in return”.
“The amount of wastage that has been caused by under-investment is just unbelievable. Where’s the money gone?” he added.
But he was open-minded about paying more, saying: “[It] all depends on the services that they’re going to provide.”
His wife Julie, 60, said: “There must be so many people out there struggling so hard.
“It’s the elderly I feel sorry for as well.
“If the water services do improve, then I suppose we have to pay for what we have.”