Lib Dems call for “Clean Water Authority” to tackle sewage dumping and overhaul failing water industry

EMBARGO: 22.30 Tuesday 11th June

• Ed Davey announced plan to launch the Clean Water Authority, a tough new regulator with powers to tackle sewage dumping and reform the water industry in England and Wales

• Water companies would be required to publish real-time data on the volume of sewage they dump into rivers 

• Analysis reveals Conservative MPs voted over 1,600 times against tougher measures to tackle sewage dumping in last Parliament

• Leader Ed Davey said the bold proposals “will end the Conservative sewage scandal once and for all” and clean up our waterways

The Liberal Democrats have today announced plans to launch the Clean Water Authority, a tough new regulator with powers to take decisive action against failing water companies over the sewage scandal.

The party would scrap Ofwat and replace it with a new tougher regulator called Clean Water Authority which would have powers to: 

• Ban bonuses for water company bosses

• Revoke the licence of poorly performing water companies swiftly

• Force water firms to publish the full scale of their sewage spills

• Reform water companies to put local environmental experts on the boards of companies

• Set legally binding targets on sewage discharges 

The party would consult on the new headquarters of Clean Water Authority, with a shortlist of locations around England and Wales impacted heavily by sewage pollution, which could include Woking, Cardiff, Cambridge, Greater Manchester or Exeter.

It comes as analysis by the Liberal Democrats has identified that since 2019, Conservative MPs have voted 1,621 times against tougher measures to tackle the sewage scandal. The votes included strengthening provisions against sewage dumping, making water company bosses criminally liable for sewage discharges and reducing the fines polluters are made to pay.

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:

“People are rightly outraged that Conservative MPs have let water companies get away with pumping their filthy sewage into our rivers and beaches. 

“Our plan to set up the Clean Water Authority would help end the Conservative sewage scandal once and for all. 

“Through a tough new regulator, we will make sure water companies put the environment and their customers first instead of lining the pockets of their shareholders. 

“Every vote for the Liberal Democrats at this election is a vote for a strong local champion who will fight to clean up our rivers and protect the environment.”

The new regulator Clean Water Authority would also have the power to ban bonuses for water company executives. Water company bosses in England and Wales have received a staggering £54 million in benefits, bonuses and incentives since the 2019 election. It comes despite 1.5 million sewage dumps, lasting over 11 million hours, during that period.

The Clean Water Authority would have the power to force water companies to publish the true scale of sewage dumping they are carrying out. Currently, water firms are only required to record the number and duration of spills. Under Liberal Democrat plans, they would be forced to publish the volume in litres of sewage discharged, essential information for understanding the true environmental impact. 

Data uncovered last week by the Liberal Democrats through an Environmental Information Request revealed Thames Water had pumped a staggering 14.2 billion litres of sewage into the river Thames in central London last year. This is the equivalent of 5,680 Olympic sized swimming pools of sewage being dumped in the Thames.

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

Publishing volume of sewage spills: Currently, water firms are only required to publicly reveal the length of sewage discharges, broken down by the number of hours sewage was dumped for. However, some still don’t currently publish the volume and litres of sewage discharged, essential information for understanding the environmental impacts. This is despite water companies including Thames Water collecting data on the total volume of spills. Data uncovered recently by the Liberal Democrats through an Environmental Information Request revealed Thames Water had pumped a staggering 14.2 billion litres of sewage into the river Thames in central London last year. 

Banning bonuses for water company bosses: Since the 2019 election water company bosses in England and Wales have received £54 million in benefits, bonuses and incentives. During that time sewage has been dumped 1.5 million times, lasting over 11 million hours.

Liberal Democrats would end this culture of getting significant rewards for polluting our rivers, lakes and coastlines, by banning all bonuses for water company executives.

1) Division 91 Environment Bill - 20th October 2021

Amendment A to Lords Amendment 45, to strengthen provisions against sewage dumping.

Votes by Conservative MPs: 268

2) Division 104 Environment Bill - 8th November 2021

Government Motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 45B, which reduced the severity of fines polluters would have been eligible for.

Votes by Conservative MPs: 279

3) Division 73 - 25th October 2023

The retained EU law bill handed power to Ministers, revoking laws to preventing sewage pollution.

Votes by Conservative MPs: 267

4) Division 217 - 25th April 2023

Labour Opposition Day on Sewage Discharge - Government amended to remove the call to set a target for the reduction of sewage discharges.

Votes by Conservative MPs: 285

5) Division 21 - 4th December 2023

Voted against Liberal Democrat amendment to create a category of victims of sewage.

Votes by Conservative MPs: 262

6) Division 153 - 15th May 2024

Voted against amendment to make water company bosses criminally liable for sewage discharges.

Votes by Conservative MPs: 260