Water white paper released

A plan to overhaul the water system and protect households from disruption has been unveiled by the government.

The water white paper sets out clear powers for the new regulator, delivering tougher oversight and making water companies more accountable.

For the first time in two decades, a chief engineer will sit inside the new single water regulator. Their job will be to bring back the hands-on checks of water infrastructure that Ofwat had failed to provide, ending the days of water firms marking their own homework.

The new regulator will introduce an ‘MOT’ approach for water company infrastructure, requiring health checks on pipes, pumps and more, with the aim of spotting problems before they happen and preventing water shortages.

Where companies fall short, a new Performance Improvement Regime will give the regulator the power to act fast and fix failures. At the same time, a rollout of smart metering and mandatory efficiency labels on items such as dishwashers and washing machines will help households monitor their water use – potentially delivering savings of over £125 million on utility bills over the next decade.

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said: “These are once-in-a-generation reforms for our water system – tough oversight, real accountability and no more excuses. Water companies will have nowhere to hide from poor performance, customers will get the service they deserve and investors will see a system built for the future.”