Environmental activists are warning UK ministers of potential widespread public outrage if significant reforms are not made to the water regulator, Ofwat.
The activists argue that the current regulatory framework is inadequate, leading to severe environmental issues such as untreated sewage being discharged into rivers and coastal areas.
Last year there was a 105% rise in raw sewage spills into England’s rivers and seas – it was discharged for more than 3.6m hours and this made 2023 the worst year for storm water pollution.
There is growing frustration among the public and environmental groups over the perceived failures of water companies to invest in infrastructure and properly manage water resources. Activists are calling for stricter regulations and greater accountability to prevent further environmental damage and ensure the protection of water bodies.
The issue has gained significant political traction, with various stakeholders, including local communities and environmental organizations, demanding immediate action from the government to address the shortcomings of the water industry and its regulation. The activists emphasise that without substantial reforms, the public’s anger could escalate, leading to increased pressure on the government to act.
Charles Watson, the founder of River Action, said the government had promised regulatory reform of the water companies, adding: "Fixing the nation’s failed environmental regulatory system was rightly a central part of Labour’s environmental campaigning promises during the general election".
"A root cause of the extensive pollution of our waterways is the combination of Ofwat’s allowing of the water companies to pay out too much to shareholders at the expense of infrastructure investment and the Environment Agency’s failure to enforce existing regulations – thus enabling polluters to be able to act freely with impunity".
"[Failing to address these problems] will be met with extreme disappointment and anger by the huge numbers of the public who voted on 4 July to clean up our waterways".
Furthermore, water companies have been criticised for prioritising profits over environmental protection, resulting in repeated incidents of pollution and mismanagement.
The activists are urging the government to implement reforms that would ensure better oversight and enforcement of environmental standards.
