Water sector reform

Early day motion 18, tabled 13 May 2026 by Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 36 members.

That this House recognises the Government’s intention to publish legislation on water sector reform following the publication of the Water White Paper; further recognises the urgent need for structural reform of England’s water industry to rebuild public trust, improve environmental outcomes and ensure fair and resilient management of essential water services; asks that the Government include the establishment of a new mutual ownership model for water companies owned by customers and professionally managed as a means to strengthen accountability and public confidence in the Bill; calls for the introduction of a new clean water authority to replace Ofwat, with updated powers and duties to ensure more effective regulation, improved environmental oversight and stronger enforcement mechanisms; further calls for a review of the triggers for placing water companies under the special administration regime, alongside the introduction of new special measures to ensure earlier intervention where companies fail to meet financial, governance or environmental standards; urges the Government to require water companies to monitor and publish volume flow data to enhance the accuracy of pollution monitoring; believes that implementing a single social tariff for water bills would help to eliminate water poverty; and therefore urges the Government to ensure that its forthcoming legislation on water reform includes comprehensive measures to improve ownership, governance, environmental protection, affordability, and oversight across the water sector.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 35, DUP 1.