Huge changes to water companies set out this week will 'make bills fair'

Water company bosses are bracing themselves ahead of a report that’s expected to demand sweeping changes to the industry this week.

Ministers have told firms they must do more if they want to restore public trust - as complaints continue to rise and half of Brits feel they’re being ripped off.

MPs and watchdogs have to wade through a steady stream of locals complaining about floods, burst pipes and loss of service.

In one case, a dog was left with E.coli poisoning after playing in a polluted river.

Others have seen businesses losing thousands of pounds after their water supply was unexpectedly cut off - with no compensation offered.

Environment Secretary Steve Reed is set to pledge to cut sewage pollution in half within five years - promising one of the largest infrastructure projects in England’s history to clean up our rivers.

And it’s thought the Government is primed to announce regulator Ofwat is to be scrapped in response to the Independent Water Commission’s report, to be published on Monday.

Water Minister Emma Hardy told the Sunday Mirror only ‘root and branch reform’ will restore public faith in water firms.

“In 21st century Britain, clean rivers, lakes and seas should be a basic right and not a luxury, but consumers are being failed by the current system,” she said.

“We have already ended the culture of unfair bonuses for polluting water bosses and secured £104 billion of investment to begin the job of upgrading our crumbling infrastructure.

“But we know that root and branch reform is vital to put the British public at the heart of water company priorities. They must be properly run, with bills that are fair and sustainable for households.”

Monday’s report, led by Sir Jon Cunliffe examined regulation, water bills and support for customers.

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Environment Secretary Steve Reed said: “Families have watched their local rivers, coastlines and lakes suffer from record levels of pollution.

“My pledge to you: the Government will halve sewage pollution from water companies by the end of the decade.

“One of the largest infrastructure projects in England’s history will clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good.”