Government sets out plan to clean up water sector

The government has announced it will be taking action to clean up the country's rivers, lakes and seas.

Plans include new legislation make sure water bosses are held to account where they are failing. A new bill aims to strengthen regulation and put water companies under special measures. It is seen as the most significant increase in enforcement powers in a decade.

The water regulator will have powers to ban the payment of bonuses if environmental standards are not met and increase accountability for water executives.

A consultation has also been launched on measures that would mean water companies need to provide compensation payments to customers if they can’t provide a sufficient service. The proposals include approximately doubling compensation payments and broadening the range of circumstances when payments can be triggered - including when boil notices are issued.

There are also new measures to cut sewage dumping and attract investment to upgrade infrastructure. This includes ringfencing funding for vital infrastructure investment, so that it is only spent on upgrades benefiting customers and the environment - and any money that isn’t spent will be returned to customers.