The Government has made changes to the Water Special Measures Bill in response to amendments put down by Jenny Jones, backed by water campaigners, in the House of Lords. Ofwat will now have a duty to protect the environment under the Bill intended to address poor performance of the water industry, and water companies will be expected to use nature based solutions to deal with sewage and flooding. However, both Tory and Labour peers rejected her attempt to bring the issue of water ownership into the Bill.
Elie Chowns said water needs to be brought into public ownership when the House of Commons debated the Bill, earlier this week. In a passionate speech, she said it is not possible to use water as a vehicle for maximising profit whilst providing safe, affordable drinking water, and a clean environment. Highlighting that 30 per cent of water bills now go towards servicing debt and dividends rather than improving infrastructure and services, she said the Government needs to face reality, rather than tinkering around the edges of a failed model.