Water companies to face regular MOT-style checks in industry shake-up

"Inspections without notice, regular MOT-style checks and compulsory water efficiency labels on appliances are among the key measures in the government's overhaul of the water industry. The government is describing the measures as as the biggest overhaul of the water industry in England and Wales since privatisation. Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said there will be "nowhere to hide" for poor performing water companies."

"Reynolds told the BBC: "We've had a system whereby water companies are marking their own homework." "This has been a whole system failure," she said. "A failure of regulation, a failure of regulators, of the water companies themselves." The Water white paper promises to set up company-specific teams to monitor, supervise and support individual firms and their particular issues rather than rely on a "desk based, one size fits all" approach."

"Smart meters and mandatory water efficiency labels on appliances including dishwashers and washing machines will also help households monitor their usage and costs, the government said. It is also creating a chief engineer role at the regulator that will be set up to replace Ofwat. Government officials have told the BBC that the establishment of a new regulator may take a year or more and water companies say it will take time for the benefits of new investments to be felt."

The government proposes comprehensive reforms to the water industry including unannounced inspections, MOT-style checks and compulsory water-efficiency labels on household appliances. The measures are presented as the largest overhaul since privatisation and aim to address pollution incidents, leaks and service outages affecting thousands of customers. Company-specific regulatory teams will monitor and support individual firms rather than apply a one-size-fits-all approach. A chief engineer role will be created and a new regulator planned to replace Ofwat, although establishment may take a year or more. The reforms follow Sir John Cunliffe’s review with 88 recommendations, while some campaigners say changes are insufficient.

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