The water industry in England and Wales is a hot mess, except for the fact that our taps produce water and our loos flush. The privatised water companies have been under fire recently for releasing raw sewage into the environment, causing public health issues. The former singer of the Undertones, Feargal Sharkey, has been campaigning for years against the industry’s chaotic and shambolic ways. Communities have been told to boil their tap water to make it safe, while others have experienced a complete water supply shutdown for weeks, causing serious inconvenience and financial tolls.
Environment Secretary, Steve Reed, has warned that parts of the country could face a drinking water shortage within the next decade while water supply issues have already disrupted housing projects. There has been a sharp decline in public faith in these companies, and rightly so.
Radical reforms are needed to address the systemic problems in the industry. The government has announced a major new commission to conduct a comprehensive review of the sector since privatisation 35 years ago. Led by former Bank of England Deputy Governor Sir Jon Cunliffe, the independent commission will explore different approaches, including the reform or abolition of the
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