It’s time to overhaul the water sector

Yesterday’s announcement that water bills are set to rise by a further 5.4% per year is an insult to households across the country.

For decades, private water companies have failed to invest in essential upgrades to our water network. As a result, masses of raw sewage is being pumped into our precious rivers and streams while shareholders continue to profit.

Water UK claims this latest above-inflation bill increase is necessary to fund the repair of leaking pipes and sewage treatment plants. But expecting households to foot the clean-up bill for a system that has failed them is completely unacceptable. Especially during a cost-of-living crisis.

I know residents of Newbury and West Berkshire are rightly outraged by the state of our rivers and the lack of accountability from water firms, such as Thames Water.

Sadly, the Government’s proposed reforms to the sector do not go far enough to address the scale of the issue. Private water companies have proven time and again that they cannot be trusted to deliver this key service.

That is why the Liberal Democrats are calling for this price hike to be scrapped and for a total overhaul of the water sector. It’s time these companies are forced to pay to clean up their own mess by a new regulator that puts the environment and customers first.