Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(): Today I am announcing the
launch of this Government's Water White Paper: A New Vision for
Water.
This paper sets out once-in-a-generation reforms for our water
system putting consumers and the environment first.
For too long, previous Governments have turned a blind eye to
record levels of pollution and poor performance.
Companies profiting at customers' expense, vital infrastructure
left to crumble, and public trust destroyed.
This Government inherited that failure – and we are not shying
away from it.
Every family in this country deserves clean water from their
taps, seas their children can swim in, and bills that are fair
and affordable.
We have already taken decisive action and have:
- passed the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 to give
regulators the powers to ban bonuses for polluting water bosses
and take tougher and faster action against water companies.
- secured a historic investment of £104 billion of private
sector funding to rebuild the water network.
- established the Water Delivery Taskforce to get spades in the
ground and fast track delivery of new infrastructure projects and
drive economic growth.
We are now going further. This White Paper sets out our response
to Sir Jon Cunliffe's Independent Water Commission's final report
of July 2025 and gives a clear vision for the reforms this
Government will make to our water sector. I would like to
reiterate my thanks to Sir for his excellent leadership of the Commission.
We will:
-
Set out a clear direction for the water sector
by revising the Strategic Policy Statements, rationalising
planning and introducing a more joined-up regional water
planning function and framework to improve local decision
making and delivery. There will be new overarching targets for
the water environment to enable consistent oversight and
alignment. This will increase the long-term stability of the
water sector.
-
Reset the approach to regulation by abolishing
Ofwat and creating a new single, integrated water regulator
that combines the functions of the four existing regulators.
This will replace the currently fragmented system with a
proactive and targeted supervisory approach tailored to
individual companies. We will create a new Performance
Improvement Regime to give the regulator the power to step in
and put things right for the poorest performing companies.
-
Make the water sector more attractive to, and reliable
for, long-term low-risk investors by simplifying
performance commitments. We will introduce new measures to
improve financial resilience and ensure investors receive a
fair and stable return that compensates for risk.
-
Make sure customers are protected by creating
a new independent water ombudsman, alongside stronger
protections to keep bills predictable, affordable and fair.
There will be better access to smarter metering to help those
who need it most. New water efficiency labels will be on every
appliance. So when customers buy a washing machine or shower,
they will know exactly what it will cost not just to buy, but
to run.
-
Protect our waterways from pollution with
record investment in storm overflows and wastewater treatment,
taking action to tackle sewer misuse and introducing a clearer
set of standards and enforcement for agricultural pollution. We
will also end operator self-monitoring and develop a new
strengthened Open Monitoring approach, making data accessible
to the public in near-real time and helping to restore public
trust in the system.
-
Increase the resilience and security of the water
system by introducing statutory resilience standards
and improving mapping of asset health. There will be new ‘MOT'
checks on water infrastructure to stop water company assets
being left to crumble. The new regulator will have a Chief
Engineer and engineering capability so that decisions are
grounded in practical understanding. We will improve
infrastructure planning with better regulatory oversight to
deliver projects more efficiently, attract third-party
investment, and protect infrastructure from growing risks.
Several reforms will be taken forward immediately whilst others
will form the foundation of a new Water Bill. The Bill will
provide the powers necessary for transformation and deliver the
outcomes the public deserve.
To help stakeholders manage these changes, we will publish a
Transition Plan detailing the journey to a new system.
This Government was elected with a clear mandate to clean up our
rivers, lakes and seas. We remain committed to delivering on that
promise.
We will work in partnership with the water sector, investors and
communities to drive this sector-wide transformation.
