Is water nationalisation a step closer?
Tik Tok video outlining the story
@thecomplainingcow With rising bills, pollution, hosepipe bans and declining customer satisfaction, many consumers feel they’re paying more but getting less. Whatever your view on nationalisation, here’s what the debate means for consumers—and the rights you already have. Do you think the water industry should be brought back into public ownership? #Water #pollution #ConsumerRights #UKPolitics #WaterIndustry
Successful petition and a debate in Parliament
The petition Hold a referendum to bring the water industry into public ownership has received more than 150,000 signatures since the campaigner Ash Smith created it in April. Petitions hosted on the UK Government website are debated when they receive more than 100,000 signatures. Parliament has this week confirmed it will debate the petition in the House of Commons on 14 September 2026.
The petition’s success demonstrates the strength of feeling the public has regarding water companies: Water customers are tired of hearing debates about ownership. Whilst it is highly unlikely that Government would want to spend the money needed for a referendum, they will need to listen to consumers who are clearly frustrated at paying high prices for poor service and getting polluted waters in return.”
Prices go up yet service goes down
According to Ofwat figures, the average bill will increase by 5.44% or £33 a year during 2026-27. This follows an average increase of 27% seen in 2025-26.
Southern Water put their costs up the most over the 2025-2026 period. They increased average household bills by roughly 47% (about £200 per year). For the 2026-2027 period, Anglian Water and Affinity Water have led with the biggest increases, implementing hikes of up to 11.9% and 11.7% respectively.
Ofwat Annual Report
The most recent Ofwat Annual Report (September 2025) states that water customer satisfaction has continued to decline over five years. The most commonly cited complaints were around poor communication and unresolved issues and “increasingly driven by concerns over water quality, infrastructure, environmental protection, and responsiveness.”
Consumers are fed up with paying more for a poorer service and they feel helpless. Whether people support public ownership or not, the petition demonstrates that many consumers have lost confidence in the current system. Consumers expect safe water, reliable infrastructure, transparent bills and complaints to be handled fairly. Too many people feel they are paying more while receiving less.
Rising bills, burst pipes, supply interruptions, pollution in our rivers and waterways, poor complaint handling and billing disputes are common concerns that Dewdney regularly hears about.
Hose Pipe Bans and Service Failures
The call for a debate on nationalisation of our water supply comes at a time when five companies announced hose pipe bans affecting over 8 million households and around 7,000 South East Water customers were affected for two days of low pressure, no water or intermittent supply due to a “temporary instrument failure” at the Tunbridge Wells water treatment works. The problem was resolved on 19 July.
There is limited compensation for some service failures. Normally, water companies should provide a minimum of 48 hours’ notice of any interruption to supply and provide details of when it will be restored. If it does not or does not restore supply by the specified time then you are usually entitled to £50 per 12 hours for unplanned outages, £50 for missed appointments or late notices, and up to £2,000 for internal sewer flooding.”
IWC Report
The Independent Water Commission (IWC) launched a call for evidence seeking views in relation to the water sector in England and Wales from 27 February 2025 to 23 April 2025. The IWC’s Final Report, published in July of the same year, did not recommend public ownership/nationalisation. It concluded that water ownership is less important than governance, regulation and accountability.
What do water customers want?
Customers want:
- Faster and better complaint handling.
- Automatic and better compensation.
- Greater transparency over bills.
- Better investment accountability.
- Stronger consumer representation.
The murky history of privatised water
Water in England and Wales was privatised in 1989 during the leadership of Margaret Thatcher, providing an immediate £7.6 billion “bonus” to the Government. However, selling off this public asset has burdened the country with an underperforming, yet very expensive, system of private water supply and sewage companies. This country is the only one in the world which has a completely privatised water and sewage system.
Fortunately for Scotland, the water system north of the border has remained in public ownership. How has anyone, other than water company directors and shareholders, benefitted since privatisation?
Whatever Parliament ultimately decides about ownership, consumers shouldn’t have to wait for political reform before receiving the standard of service they deserve.
We can live in hope that Parliament debating this issue might actually be a catalyst for discussing how consumers can receive better protection and stronger accountability from water companies.
Further help regarding water supply
Available financial support for water customers
Financial help for water, energy and broadband vulnerable customers
How to complain about water interruptions
More consumer rights help and advice
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