The UK government’s Water (Special Measures) Bill intends to address long-standing issues in the country’s water system, including pollution, infrastructure disrepair, and corporate accountability.
Environment Secretary Steve Reed delivered a speech today outlining the bill, claiming “We’ve inherited a broken water system that affects us all – from the health and happiness of communities to the quality and resilience of our food system and the natural environment.”
He highlighted the need for urgent reforms after “14 years of Tory failure,” which he claimed allowed water companies to neglect environmental protection in favour of executive bonuses and shareholder dividends.
Reed criticised the state of the country’s waterways, referencing sewage pollution that affected Lake Windermere and the River Thames, where rowers were warned against entering the water due to high contamination levels. “Our green and pleasant land is no longer so pleasant. Pride is turning to despair,” Reed said, stressing that residents across the country feel their rivers, lakes, and beaches are under threat.
Reed also noted that “Supply problems are becoming increasingly common”, referencing the country’s significant water shortages by 2050. He continued, “Yet despite this rising threat, no new reservoirs have been completed since 1992, with the resulting lack of resilient water supplies stopping us from building the new homes and critical infrastructure we need to grow the economy.”
Key provisions of the bill include:
Increased Accountability: Water companies will face stricter penalties for environmental violations, with new powers granted to the Environment Agency to impose fines and prosecute offenders. The bill proposes tougher penalties, including imprisonment for obstructing investigations.
Ringfenced Investment: Funds intended for water infrastructure improvements will be protected, ensuring they are not diverted to pay executive bonuses. Reed emphasised that unspent investments will be refunded to customers.
Real-Time Monitoring: Companies will be required to install real-time monitors to provide transparency on sewage spills, with data accessible to the public and regulators within an hour of incidents occurring.
The bill also aims to modernise infrastructure, with plans for new reservoirs, upgrades to storm overflows, and enhanced water storage capacity to prepare for future droughts and growing demand. The legislation is part of a broader reform strategy, with the government set to launch a full review of the water sector later this year.
Reed also mentioned the Mandatory Water Efficiency Label for products, noting that it would “help consumers make more efficient water choices.”
Reed underscored the importance of a long-term partnership between the government, regulators, environmental groups, and the private sector to tackle the deep-rooted problems in the water industry. “This is our opportunity to clean up our water once and for all,” Reed concluded, promising that future generations will benefit from cleaner rivers and lakes.