Our coastal waters and rivers are some of the most precious natural assets that we have, yet for too long water companies have failed to update their infrastructure to deal with increased pressure and population growth. As a result, our waterways have been neglected.
This week, the Government updated its plans to hold water company bosses to account by banning bonuses if their company commits a serious criminal breach. These measures, part of the wider reforms introduced by the Environment Act, mean the UK is now home to some of the most stringent rules holding water companies to account in Europe, and rightly so!
On the statute book are laws and rules that can send executives to jail, withhold bonuses and restrict dividend payments while also revoking licenses and fining companies an unlimited amount (the previous maximum being £250k). Each and every one of these rules have been introduced to reduce storm overflows, increase the capacity of the water networks, produce comprehensive wastewater management plans and hold those who run the companies to account.
These measures will make a significant difference to our local and national network, and it is absolutely right that the pressure is piled on to make the necessary changes to make our waterways the cleanest in the world.
The scale and state of the problem caused by lack of monitoring was aptly recognised by the then Conservative Environment Minister Richard Benyon in 2013. Back then, less than 45% of our waterways were monitored while now, thanks to Richard’s work, over 98% of our national waterways are monitored with South West Water monitoring a complete 100%.
However, while progress has been made and there are significant signs of improvement, there is still some way to go. Over the course of 2023 I held town hall meetings across South Devon with South West Water executives so they could update residents on what is happening to upgrade the network, as well as explaining to attendees why we have been subjected to such a high number of sewage spills. These meetings were constructive, and residents came armed with hard hitting questions for South West Water executives, asking for better engagement, transparency and updates on the company’s work to reduce sewage spills and improve the existing infrastructure.
Since those meetings, it has been welcome to see the WaterFit Live website is working well to update residents on the state of water quality as well as highlighting some of they key problem areas. This information has spurred South West Water to continue to provide real time information on storm overflows as well as improve their engagement with local communities. They have also committed over £30m worth of spending on South Devon’s water network, from Marlborough and Loddiswell to Littlehempston and up on the moor at Didworthy, there are major works underway to improve existing infrastructure
All these measures are needed and welcome, but the water companies have to stick to their promises to clean up their act. The legislation has been passed, the laws are in place and it’s now for the water companies to rebuild the confidence that has badly dented by years of inaction. I held these meetings across South Devon not to defend South West Water but to hold them to account, which is exactly what I have been and will continue to do while serving as the Member of Parliament of South Devon.
Working with the Environment Agency, Devon MPs are holding regular meetings to evaluate the work of South West Water and to ensure that spills and storm overflows are all brought down to a minimum. The company itself has set ambitious targets and the emphasis is not just on them to meet these targets, but to go above and beyond.