Fixing the flow: The biggest water upgrades since privatisation to begin

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Public anger has been mounting over rising water bills, frequent sewage spills, and insufficient investment and, in response, the government has launched an Independent Water Commission.

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00:00The head of Water UK has issued an apology for the industry's shortcomings as it undergoes

00:06its largest review since privatisation. Public anger has been mounting over rising water

00:11bills, frequent sewage spills and insufficient investment. In response, the government has

00:15launched an independent water commission, chaired by Sir John Cunliffe, which could

00:19lead to the restructuring or replacement of the water regulator Ofwatt. David Henderson,

00:24chief executive of Water UK, acknowledged the industry's failures and said there is

00:28a plan to stop sewage from entering waterways. Environment Secretary Steve Reid described

00:33the review as a comprehensive effort to fix the UK's failing and polluted water system.

00:38All options, including reforming or replacing Ofwatt, will be considered, though nationalisation

00:43has been ruled out due to its high cost and slow process. The private sector is expected

00:48to fund the necessary upgrades to infrastructure, which could result in higher bills for customers.

00:53Ofwatt has already indicated bills may increase by more than the previously proposed 21% over

00:59five years, with final decisions expected later this year. The increase varies greatly

01:03between companies.

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