Marie Tidball MP has welcomed three landmark reforms to clean up the UK’s water sector, announced by the government this week. The reforms aim to protect families from massive bills and to cut pollution into our waterways.
Firstly, the Labour Government have announced they will cut sewage pollution in half by 2030, investing £104 billion to rebuild our entire water network. This work will include upgrades to crumbling pipes, and building new sewage treatment works. This commitment will make the country's waterways the cleanest since records began.
Secondly, the Government are also abolishing Ofwat, in the biggest overhaul of water since privatisation. Ofwat has failed customers, allowing water companies to mismanage billions of pounds. Instead, a new single powerful regulator will be set up, creating one clear system of regulation for our water sector.
Thirdly, the Government are establishing a Consumer Champion Water Ombudsman to support customers, when faced with leaking pipes, incorrect bills or water supply issues. This new Ombudsman will have legal powers to protect customers in disputes with their water company, with a single, free point of contact, to put money back in people’s pockets.
These three new reforms are on top of actions taken by the Government already to clean up the country's water sector.
The Water Special Measures Act was passed into law earlier this year, and has already banned unfair bonuses for Yorkshire Water bosses. The Government have also given water regulation its largest budget on record, to fund hundreds of enforcement officers to inspect water companies.
Customers' bills are also now ringfenced for new upgrades, rather than being spent on water company bonuses. An additional £100 million of water company fines is also being reinvested into community clean-up projects.
Welcoming the landmark reforms, Marie Tidball MP, Member of Parliament for Penistone and Stocksbridge, said:
“We have inherited record levels of illegal sewage dumping in our rivers, lakes and seas, as a result of 14 years of failure from the Conservatives. In 2023, Yorkshire Water spilled sewage for over 18,000 hours across our waterways. Customers have also faced higher bills because the previous government allowed the water companies to get away with this.
“I listen to constituents regularly about unacceptably high water bills and sewage being dumped in our beautiful local waterways. I have written to and met with Yorkshire Water to raise these concerns directly. Our Labour Government will not stand by and let this continue.
“This Government is cleaning up our water sector for good, to ensure hardworking British families will never again face huge bill hikes like we saw last year. These decisive actions will also cut pollution into our beautiful rivers, lakes, and seas.”
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