Shankul Bhandare
Water bills in England and Wales are set to increase by an average of £94 over the next five years, according to the water regulator Ofwat. The increase will vary by region, with Thames Water customers seeing a rise of £99 or 23%, Anglian Water customers facing a £66 or 13% increase, and Southern Water customers experiencing a £183 or 44% hike.
The average annual increase of £19 is about a third less than what water companies originally requested. This increase aims to fund significant improvements such as replacing leaking pipes and reducing sewage discharges into rivers and seas. Water companies are under growing scrutiny for their environmental and financial practices.
Labour has pledged to enforce stricter regulations on the industry, including higher compensation for sewage failures and holding water executives accountable. The new Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed, is set to meet with water company executives to discuss performance improvements.
While Ofwat has proposed these bill increases, water companies can challenge them, with a final decision expected by the end of the year. Ofwat’s chief executive, David Black, described the plan as the “biggest ever” investment in the water sector, aimed at improving customer service and the environment at a fair price.
The UK’s largest water company, Thames Water, will be under increased scrutiny by the regulator, with a new oversight regime to ensure performance improvements. Ofwat requires Thames Water to provide a detailed action plan and regularly report progress, possibly monitored by an independent third party.
The government is planning new measures to ensure investment funds are protected and not used for salaries or dividends. Customer panels will have enhanced powers to hold directors and executives accountable, and compensation for failing to meet required standards could be more than doubled.
This crackdown comes amid rising public anger over pollution and financial mismanagement, with some companies, including the financially distressed Thames Water, seeking leniency due to their financial difficulties.
High levels of pollution
Dave Wallace, a citizen scientist from Henley, has been conducting water tests on the River Thames. “We began our testing last year after some children became ill,” he explained. “I had also been swimming and encountered what I can only describe as solids in the water, which made me question what was happening.”
Through his testing, Wallace discovered high pollution levels, including very high concentrations of E. coli in the river. “I’ve stopped swimming because we know people are getting sick from going in the river,” he noted.
He reported an increase in illnesses, including diarrhea, infected sores, and cases of sepsis. “It’s not just affecting people; there have been numerous reports of dogs falling ill from the water as well,” Wallace added.
