As many people enjoy a post-Christmas break, thousands are gearing up for the daring tradition of taking a plunge into icy waters on Boxing Day.
Throughout my travels to various water bodies across the country, the concerning state of our water sources has been consistently highlighted. However, the current administration remains committed to driving significant reforms to establish a water system that garners public trust. Recent findings from the Environment Agency indicate that 93% of bathing waters now meet the required swimming standards, marking a notable improvement from the previous year.
During a visit to a bathing water site in Nottingham, regular visitors shared their year-round swimming habits, even braving icy conditions in winter. Efforts have been initiated to revamp outdated bathing water monitoring protocols, making them more adaptable to people’s swimming habits and schedules. The Water (Special Measures) Act, enacted in February, ushered in the most stringent enforcement measures ever seen in the sector. Notably, it introduced legal repercussions for water executives who conceal illegal sewage discharges and the authority to withhold unjustifiable bonuses – preventing £4 million in bonuses for ten water executives this past summer.
Plans are underway to implement automatic penalties for water companies, ensuring swift and unavoidable consequences for any misconduct. The budget for water regulation at the Environment Agency has been bolstered to £189 million for 2025/26, the highest allocation to date, with plans to conduct 10,000 inspections during the period, a substantial increase from previous years. Furthermore, a record 87 investigations into water companies have been pursued.
This summer, minimum compensation rates were doubled, and compensation for boil notices was introduced for the first time, safeguarding consumers and businesses in instances where water companies fail, as witnessed in the recent disruption in Tunbridge Wells.
The primary objective upon assuming office was clear: to instill confidence in people to swim and enjoy water activities in their local surroundings. A substantial £104 billion has been secured for essential infrastructure upgrades over the next five years. The upcoming Water White Paper, slated for release in the New Year, will outline a comprehensive strategy for long-term reform, including proposals for a new unified water regulator. Noteworthy progress has been achieved, signaling a positive shift. However, there is still more work to be done.