Environment Secretary Steve Reed is set to establish a new water ombudsman to support customers - the consumer champion will have legal powers to resolve disputes to put money back in people’s pockets.

Steve Reed has announced that water customers will have more support than ever before when faced with leaking pipes, incorrect bills or water supply issues. Reed is set to kick off ‘root and branch’ reforms of the water sector in response to the Independent Water Commission’s final report.

Last October, the Environment Secretary asked the former Deputy Governor of the Bank of England, Sir Jon Cunliffe, to undertake the biggest review of the water sector since privatisation.

The announcement comes as the government is set to re-establish the partnership between water companies, investors and communities to keep our waters clean.

The government will create a water ombudsman with legal powers to protect customers in disputes with their water company - customers will be able to use a single, free point of contact. According to the government, the current system for dealing with complaints lacks any teeth and too often leaves customers with nowhere to go. With no binding consumer watchdog, customers risk being left stranded.

It will build on the Consumer Council for Water’s role, which is currently voluntary for water companies to follow. The changes will bring dispute resolution processes for water in line with other utilities – like energy – and are part of the government’s actions to put customers at the heart of water regulation.

The new measures will establish a new level playing field between customers and companies, building on reforms to double automatic payments when water companies fail to deliver adequate standards of service and place customers at the heart of water company purpose.

Following the Independent Water Commission’s final report, the government will look at the CCW’s role as part of a reformed regulator.

Steve Reed is expected to announce ‘root and branch’ reforms on Monday to clean up rivers, lakes and seas and make the water sector one of growth and opportunity that serves hard-working families and businesses, as part of the government’s Plan for Change.

He is also expected to make assurances that government action will protect hardworking families from massive water bill hikes in future.

In a speech following the report’s publication, Environment Secretary Steve Reed is expected to say:

“The water industry is broken. Our rivers, lakes and seas are polluted with record levels of sewage. Water pipes have been left to crumble into disrepair. Soaring water bills are straining family finances.

“Today’s final report from Sir Jon Cunliffe’s Independent Water Commission offers solutions to fix our broken regulatory system so the failures of the past can never happen again.

“The Government will introduce root and branch reform in the biggest overhaul of water regulation in a generation.

“We are establishing a new partnership where water companies, investors, communities and the Government will work together to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good.”

Earlier today the Secretary of State pledged that the Government will cut sewage pollution in half by 2030 and halve phosphorus from treated wastewater by 2028.