England and Wales’ struggling water sector is set for stricter oversight after a major review, which includes plans for a new regulatory body to address past failures.
Following what the report’s author, Sir Jon Cunliffe, described as a crisis moment for water and sewage companies, the government revealed it would dissolve Ofwat and merge its responsibilities with other regulatory agencies under a single authority.
On Monday, Environment Secretary Steve Reed informed Parliament that officials would implement five of Cunliffe’s 88 proposals immediately, including launching a live pollution map to publicly disclose sewage discharges by water firms—currently, companies self-report such incidents.
Reed also announced that community activists and environmental groups would gain greater influence in local waterway restoration efforts, with new regional boards to manage river and coastal cleanup projects and oversee infrastructure planning.
“For the first time, volunteers and local researchers will participate through regional structures. Residents, councils, and businesses will all have a say,” he said.
Ofwat, criticized for allowing years of financial mismanagement and sewage spills, will be replaced by a consolidated regulator. This new body will also assume the responsibilities of the Environment Agency, the Drinking Water Inspectorate, and Natural England to streamline oversight.
“I share Sir Jon’s view that water regulation has been inadequate, overly complicated, and inefficient. Multiple regulators with overlapping roles have let down both consumers and the environment,” Reed stated.
Cunliffe told *CuriosityNews* that full implementation of the new system would take until at least 2027, noting a similar timeline for other regulatory reforms. “Ofcom required two years to establish,” he remarked.
Presenting his 465-page report at the London Museum of Water and Steam, Cunliffe attributed systemic failures to mismanagement: “Some firms prioritized their interests over public welfare. Moving forward, this must not continue.”
The term “Great Stink” references the summer of 1858, when London’s polluted Thames prompted the development of the modern sewage network.
Another adopted proposal includes a consumer ombudsman to recover compensation for water supply disruptions, alongside stricter government directives for Ofwat and the Environment Agency during the merger.
The remaining recommendations will be reviewed in the coming months before final decisions are made.
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