Ofwat chief exec admits water bills will go up. Time for a proper regulator with teeth.

Last week, the Chief Executive of Ofwat, the regulator of the water industry, said on the Today programme that water bills would probably have to go up to clean up the sewage scandal and make sure water supplies are up to standard.

Responding to the Chief Executive of Ofwat, Liberal Democrat Environment Spokesperson Tim Farron said:

"It is pathetic for the so-called regulator to let water firms hike prices, when they've handed out millions in dividends and bonuses.

"Customers shouldn't be forced to pay to clean up the water companies' own mess.

"What is the point of Ofwat when they let profiteering firms get away with this environmental destruction? It's time ministers got tough on this wild west industry and set up a proper regulator with real teeth."

Anja Schaefer, Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the Buckingham Constituency, said:

“Water bills going up will be particularly galling for Thames Water customers in our area. They will be paying the bill for years of mismanagement at the company, where debts were piled up to pay for shareholder dividends at the expense of investing in infrastructure.

Governance of Thames Water and other water companies now needs to be set up in such a way that providing services to customers and protecting our environment receives the highest priority”.