Failure of the water sector needs a stronger regulation, the review says

The water sector in England and Wales decays and needs stronger regulations to better protect Billpayers and the environment, according to temporary findings of a significant examination.

Independent Water Commission, led by former Bank Governor Deputy Governor Sir Jon Cunliffe, said on Tuesday that public confidence has shaken “pollution, financial difficulties, poor management [and] Infrastructure failures. “

He added that it is necessary to be a clearer direction than the Government, a better approach to long -term investment and a stronger voice for local communities.

The examination was set by the Government in October in the midst of growing public concerns due to sewer spilling and growing accounts.

In the launch of the audit, the Government excluded the nationalization of the sector – claiming that it would be too expensive and would not necessarily lead to improvement.

“There is no simple, individual change, no matter how radical, which will provide a fundamental reset that is needed for the water sector,” Sir Jon said.

“We have heard of deeply rooted, systemic and mutual failures over the years-in no avail in the Government Strategy and planning the future, the failure to regulate both Billpayer and the environment and the failure of some water companies and their owners to act in public, as well as their private interest.”

He added that new legislation would be required.

In response to the findings of Sir Jon, the Minister of the Environment, Steve Reed, described the water system as “broken”, adding that the Government of the UK would fully respond to the Commission.

A spokesman for the Velska government also thanked the Commission and said to consider his discovery.

Perhaps the strongest words of Sir Jono were about the role of regulator – environmental agencies, natural resources of Wales and ofwat – to ensure that private water companies operate “in public interest”.

In an interview with BBC breakfast, he said: “We are definitely talking about environmental regulators – environmental agency [in England]Natural resources in Wales – not only have more people and more resources, but also have modern technology so they can control and so they can monitor and keep companies on accounts. “

“On the side of economic regulation [Ofwat]We really need a regulator that is close to companies, which oversees them and constantly monitors them, as we do in financial services with banks – not only so they can intervene early… but so I can support companies to improve themselves, ”he added.

“Some of that started, but you need to do a lot more.”

The water commission added that he considers the “significant simplification and reconciliation of regulators” to solve these challenges.

In response, the Environmental Protection and Owat Agency said that they greet temporary findings and that they would continue to cooperate with Sir Jon and his team before the final report is submitted to the Government.

In the temporary findings of the Commission, the temporary finding of the Commission, are previously the main report, which are expected to be published later this summer and make final recommendations.

The government will then decide which recommendations want to implement.

The review has considered more than 50,000 answers dedicated to the water sector, from public, environmental groups, regulators and water industry.

“What we heard was clear: the current system does not deliver what people expect and need,” Sir Jon said in a foreword in the report.

The government asked the cheese to focus on reforms on the water sector as a whole, not on individual water companies.

“The water industry is aware of public dissatisfaction and loss of trust,” said Stuart Colville, Deputy Executive Director of the Industrial Trade Association Water UK, for BBC breakfast.

“What we hope for from this commission … They are a set of proposals that will help us back that trust by providing far more and far faster in response to the legitimate demands of the public.”

The environmental campaign welcomed the invitation to greater regulation, but they said that more focus on the restructuring of water companies was needed.

“We have to … see how we can put water companies in public advantage, first put water quality and judge performance according to the way they take care of the environment and customers,” said James Wallace, River Action CEO for BBC breakfast.

“This looks like a sales document for international investors and how to attract highly paid executives, not how to clean our rivers,” he added.

The pressure on the water sector is increasing due to climate change, population growth and other factors – but it also suffers from decades of insufficient investment.

Increased monitoring has led to greater control in the amount of sewage that spills into our rivers, lakes and seas. Total lasted pouring from pipe pipes More than 3.6 million hours Both in 2023 and 2024.

The release of raw sewers into rivers and the sea can be legal if they are spilled during moist weather, although it can still pose a risk to humans and the environment.

But BBC has previously discovered evidence likely to spill during dry days.

In April, Accounts rose an average of 26% In England and Wales, as regulators have approved the plans of water companies for billions of pounds of investment. This is also focused on the upgrade of water supplies and a decrease in the amount of sewer that is shedding.

Responding to the temporary findings of the Water Commission, the environment minister in the shadow of Victoria Atkins said that the conservatives would be carefully studied and engaged in the report.

“While we were in the Government, we took measures to ban bonuses for bosses of water companies that committed criminal violations, we prosecuted water companies that illegally polluted our rivers and we gave our ambitious promise to ensure 100 percent of the storm dressings,” she added.

Tim Farron’s Liberal Democratic Democratic Environment spokesman said: “In the heart of a sewer scandal is a regulatory system that failed.

“It’s time for an ofwat to go and the commission must do it now.”