WE NEED TO MOVE PAST OUR OBSESSION WITH PUNISHING WATER COMPANIES

Responding to the Cunliffe Report, CEN’s Head of Campaigns Kitty Thompson said: 

“The Cunliffe Review has rightly recognised the flaws of our overly prescriptive and rigid approach to water regulation, and specifically the debilitating role that Ofwat plays. Forcing water companies to develop a vast and complex array of different plans and strategies has been an expensive endeavour and one that has not met the public’s expectations.

“We need a plan that tackles water pollution from source to sea, adopting a more holistic approach that focuses on outcomes. This demands that we go beyond punishing water companies about sewage pollution to actually delivering cleaner water across the board. We, therefore, need a more flexible regulatory environment that can tailor solutions to local priorities, rationalise regulations, and reduce the costs of compliance, underpinned by a regulator that is fit for purpose. This will unlock the innovation and flexibility we need to reduce the full range of pollutants and stresses facing water in Britain.”