The House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee has criticised the Government’s “lack of leadership and deep-rooted complacency” in the conclusion to its follow-up inquiry into Ofwat, the water industry and the role of Government.

Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey and Water Minister Rebecca Pow met with local community groups, environmental regulators, farming representatives, water company representatives and local councillors in Suffolk yesterday to discuss actions to improve the River Deben.

At the start of April 2023, DEFRA unveiled its Plan for Water as a commitment to implementing “a systematic, local, catchment-based approach” for delivering clean and plentiful water. Though the Plan highlights the strides forwards in addressing water purity, there is still room for further improvement.

The Government has today published a new Plan for Water covers both the water environment – how clean it is – and water resources – how much of it which will deliver more investment, stronger regulation and tougher enforcement on water companies.

Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey is expected to announce tougher penalties and fines on water companies this week which will be reinvested back into a new Water Restoration Fund, making polluters pay for damage they cause to the environment.