Steve Reed, the Environment Secretary, has announced the most significant review of England’s water industry since its privatisation over 30 years ago.
The review comes in response to growing concerns about rising bills, sewage pollution, and a lack of investment in infrastructure.
However, despite the scale of the crisis, Reed has ruled out public ownership as a possible solution.
A system in crisis
Water companies across the country have come under fire for failing to invest in essential infrastructure while accumulating vast debts.
Customers have seen sharp increases in their bills, with a significant portion of payments being used to service company debts rather than improve services.
At the same time, leaks and failing pipes have led to frequent storm overflows, with untreated sewage pouring into rivers and seas.
Environmental and public health concerns
Sewage releases are becoming more frequent, endangering aquatic life and posing serious risks to public health in coastal and inland bathing areas. Councillor Lilley highlighted this at Wednesday’s Full Council meeting when he reported that due to the torrential rain in January, there were huge increases in sewage discharges. He said 105 in January 2025 was the highest on record for Ryde beaches. He called for Southern Water to be held to account.
Water shortages have also been highlighted as a growing problem, with no new reservoirs built since privatisation.
Over-extraction from rivers has further reduced water levels, increasing the concentration of pollutants in England’s waterways.
Public ownership campaign gathers support
Campaign group We Own It has launched a 48-hour petition urging the government to reconsider its stance on public ownership.
The group argues that publicly owned water services would prioritise investment in infrastructure and environmental protection over shareholder profits.
Southern Water customers hit hard
For Southern Water customers, the crisis is particularly severe. Despite paying higher bills, about a third of their payments are being used to cover debts rather than fund improvements.
With pollution levels rising and infrastructure failing, many believe that government intervention must go further than a review that rules out public ownership from the outset.
Have your say
The petition calling for public ownership to be considered as part of the review is open for signatures.
More details can be found on the We Own It website.
Southern Water
OnTheWight has approached Southern Water for a response to the review and petition. We’ll update once we hear back.
