Surfers Againist Sewage have called for action against what it sees as deeply flawed proposals outlined in a White Paer by the government regarding water companies and the pollution of our seas and rivers.
On January 20 the government released the White Paper about what it described as 'the biggest overhaul of the water system in a generation'. Scroll down to after the Surfers Against Sewage response to read the full press release.
It has been called a whitewash by Surfers Against Sewage and a disgrace by Prof Becky Malby of the Ilkley Clean River group. Click here for the very detailed response by the latter. ]
Surfers Against Sewage:has called for action againist this proposed legislation. It stated:
Let’s not dress this sh*t up. - This White Paper is a total WHITEWASH.
After years of sewage pollution, record spills, rising bills and thousands of people being made sick, the government has chosen to protect a broken system - not fix it.
They’ve repackaged failure, slapped a new label on it, and hoped we wouldn’t notice.
What the government is suggesting
Ministers say their new Water White Paper will ‘fix’ the sewage crisis by:
💩 Scrapping Ofwat and creating a new ‘super-regulator’
💩 Introducing ‘MOT-style’ checks on water company infrastructure
💩 Appointing a Chief Engineer to oversee assets
💩 Rolling out smart meters and efficiency labels for household appliances
💩 Promising stronger inspections and earlier intervention when companies fail
But you can’t polish a turd. None of this tackles the real cause of the sewage scandal. This is not transformation - the system itself remains unchanged.
A crisis caused by design - not accidents
The sewage scandal isn’t happening because water companies lack inspections. It’s happening because our water system is designed to put profit before people and the planet.
For decades, private water companies have been rewarded for pollution:
💸 £74 billion paid to shareholders
🤑 £69 billion loaded onto company debt
🤮 Over half a million sewage dumps in 2024 alone
Yet the government has refused to confront this truth - even blocking the Independent Water Commission from properly examining alternative ownership and governance models.
Instead, this White Paper is locking us into the same broken system, for decades to come.
An 'MOT' won't fix a rotten industry
The government says water companies are to get ‘MOT-style’ checks. So… if you give a sewage-spewing monopoly the same test as a 2008 Ford Fiesta, everything will be fine..?! 🚗
We hate to break it to you Keir: the privatised water industry doesn’t need an MOT - it needs taking off the road.
Offering a few weak checks and energy-saving tips in the middle of a public health and cost of living crisis is frankly insulting.
We refuse to accept this
The truth is glaringly obvious to everyone except this government. As long as the industry is structured to prioritise profit, people will keep paying the price with their health and soaring bills.
Real reform means:
🌊 Putting public and environmental health first in law
🌊 Treating water as an essential public service, not a commodity
🌊 Ending rewards for polluters
🌊 Giving communities real power over decisions
🌊 Creating regulators that are independent, fearless and fully funded
Until those changes happen, sewage will keep flowing - no matter how many press releases are polished or how many regulators get fancy new job titles.
What happens next?
Ministers want this White Paper passed quickly and quietly. So we’re working hard behind the scenes to highlight exactly what it gets wrong and how we can push for real change. ✊
Now it’s up to MPs to stop these flawed reforms - and we need to pile on the pressure. 📣
So join the fight. Contact your local MP or MS. Let them know that their constituents demand clean water, real oversight, and an end to sewage pollution.
The Government's press release:
CLEAN WATER, CLEAR EXPECTATIONS: GOVERNMENT UNVEILS BIGGEST OVERHAUL IN A GENERATION
- A new Chief Engineer to bring technical expertise to new regulator, ending days of water companies marking their own homework
- New ‘MOT’ checks on water infrastructure to stop water company assets being left to crumble and powers for regulator to intervene early where failures spotted
- Wider rollout of smart meters and mandatory efficiency labels on items like dishwashers to bring savings of over £125 million on water and energy bills over the next decade
A new once-in-a-generation plan to overhaul the water system and protect households from disruption has been unveiled today (Tuesday 20 January). The Water White Paper sets out clear powers for the new regulator, delivering tougher oversight and stronger accountability for water companies.
For the first time in two decades, a Chief Engineer will sit inside the new single water regulator. Their job is to bring back the hands-on checks of water infrastructure Ofwat has failed to provide, ending the days of water firms marking their own homework, resulting in crumbling pipes and unreliable services.
The new regulator will introduce an ‘MOT’ approach for water company infrastructure, requiring health checks on pipes, pumps and more. This forward-looking approach means no more waiting to act, spotting problems before they happen and preventing water shortages.
These reforms put prevention first, requiring companies and bosses to plan for the long-term. Where companies fall short, a new Performance Improvement Regime will give the regulator the power to act fast and fix failures so that underperforming water companies recover faster, protecting customers and the environment and giving stability to investors.
At the same time, a roll-out of smart metering and mandatory efficiency labels on items like dishwashers and washing machines will help households monitor their water use and cut costs – delivering savings of over £125 million on water and energy bills over the next decade. Building on last year's plastic wet wipes ban, the White Paper prioritises pre-pipe solutions that tackle the root causes of pollution through sustainable drainage, rainwater management, and cracking down on sewer misuse.
Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said:
“These are once-in-a-generation reforms for our water system - tough oversight, real accountability, and no more excuses.
“Water companies will have nowhere to hide from poor performance, customers will get the service they deserve, and investors will see a system built for the future.
“This builds on the tough action we’ve already delivered, from record investment to banning unfair bonuses.”
Dedicated supervisory teams for each water company will replace the current one-size-fits-all approach, giving the new single regulator a thorough understanding of how each company operates – and the ability to intervene before problems take hold.
Stronger inspection powers, including the new regulator able to conduct ‘no notice’ inspections will help prevent the kind of disruption that has affected communities across South East England in recent weeks.
This stronger, prevention-first regulation will form part of a whole sector approach for tackling water pollution and protecting the environment. Water industry planning is currently fragmented across more than 20 different processes, which is inefficient and not cost effective. New reforms will instead bring councils, water companies, farmers, and developers together to deliver joined-up local plans to tackle river pollution, water resources and housing growth.
Greater transparency and tough regulation set out in today’s White Paper will drive forward action to protect communities, the environment and deliver value for customers:
Over the next five years, £11 billion of water company investment will improve around 2,500 storm overflows. And nearly £5 billion is being invested in upgrades at wastewater treatment works to remove phosphorus – a key cause of nutrient pollution in the environment. This is part of a wider £60 billion programme which will help to protect 15,000km of rivers by 2050.
Funding for local catchment partnerships will double, empowering local groups to stop pollution before it reaches our waterways. More joined up regional water planning will reduce duplication, minimise bureaucracy and deliver better value for money.
The current system for dealing with customer complaints lacks teeth and too often leaves customers with nowhere to turn. A new Water Ombudsman will have legally binding powers to resolve customer complaints. This means companies will face tougher requirements to respond quickly and compensate fairly when things do go wrong, such as the shocking disruption we saw in Tunbridge Wells, and the South East in recent months.
This builds on tough government action including introducing criminal liability for water bosses who cover up illegal sewage spills, and the power to ban unfair bonuses – blocking £4 million in bonuses last summer.
A 2026 Transition Plan will set out the path to this new system, and a new water reform bill will bring forward the legislation needed enable the system to take effect.
Backed by £104 billion of private investment over five years, this shift towards proactive maintenance of water company assets will fix failing infrastructure, end mismanagement, and build a water system that puts customers first – protecting household bills while attracting investment to secure the sector for the long-term.