Campaigners warn of 'extreme anger' if water regulator isn't reformed

Anti-sewage campaigners have warned of "extreme anger" if the government does not radically reform the water regulator Ofwat.

- Helena Horton

Sources at the Environment Agency (EA) and in the Labour party have told the Guardian that although Labour had spent time considering reforms of the EA and Ofwat in order to fix the sewage crisis, some stricter options that had been proposed were now off the table.

Campaigners say Ofwat has been too lax on the water companies and prioritised low bills over improving sewer systems.

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. Options that sources say have been discussed with campaigners, the EA and other stakeholders included merging Ofwat and the EA, giving Ofwat more powers and a policy prioritising environmental benefits over costs to consumers, and giving the regulators more independence from government.

At the moment, for example, the EA shares a press office with Defra and its communications are directed by ministers, which makes it difficult to take long-term actions that the government could think too politically damaging, or to hold the government to account.