Water bill rises needed after years of low investment, says report

Water bills have to grow rapidly to grow for years of underwestion, a major review in the condition of the water industry in England and Wales.

A long -awaited independent Water Commission report found that there was pressure to keep domestic prices low for years, due to which the bills are expected to increase by 30% now and between 2030.

The report led by Sir John Kanalif, a former governor of the Bank of England, also suggested compulsory smart meters in homes to help people manage the cost and at the same time scrap the regulator’s regulator.

This comes amidst widespread criticism by water companies when pipes and sewage spread, hitting a new record with pollution incidents in England.

Preacher Feargal Shariki said that “corporate greed”, “Bill-Paye and Exploitation of Environment” were at the center of industry problems.

He criticized the government for limiting the scope of the report to renovate the water industry in England and Wales.

Environment Secretary Steve Reid claimed that nationalization would spend £ 100bn.

“The money that we do not have,” he said.

Last year, Owat announced that water bills in England and Wales would increase by more than five years, which would grow rapidly to raise £ 104BN to invest in infrastructure.

Water bills for homes in England and Wales have increased by an average from £ 10 per month, although the cost varies depending on suppliers.

However, the incidents of pollution by water companies in England have reached a record level according to the data from the environment agency.

The most serious case, Which causes significant damage to the aquatic life and potentially human health, increased by 60% last year.

Companies have long claimed that they have been held back from investing in the country’s pipes and investing in sewage treatment facilities due to limited price increase for customers.

The report said that the water bill of customers had declined by 15% in the last decade keeping in mind inflation.

However, since privatization in 1989, water companies have paid at least £ 54BN to shareholders, including foreign investment funds.

Sir John said that the BBC had “really huge increase in bills” in the last one year.

He said: “The unavoidable fact is that there is more expenditure in producing drinking water and more to deal with our wastewater because we move forward – climate change, aging infrastructure, population growth, development – put pressure on the system.”

He has suggested the establishment of a single regulator in England, with a similar body for Wales, to change the water responsibilities of the vaccine, drinking water Inspectrate and Environment Agency.

Reid claimed that being a single regulator would mean that it could take better care of maintenance and investment in the infrastructure of water to “Working hard -working British families have never seen any surprising bill hikes that we saw last year”.

He said: “The reforms we are bringing are to prevent the circumstances that motivate them to increase the bills.”

However, other campaigners stated that the reviews did not go too far to fix the system.

“Report diagnoses symptoms, but avoids treatment,” said James Wallace, Chief Executive Officer of River Action.

Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) stated that the recommendations were only “putting lipstick on a pig”.

Its Chief Executive Ziles Bristo said the report “failed to prioritize public profit on personal profit”.

In his 88 recommendations to improve the water industry, Sir John said that installing smart water meters in homes would mean what people use instead of paying a flat fee, it will be fees for this.

The report also recommended:

• Changing consumer council for water in a consumer Lokpal
• Creating nine regional water system boards to give voice to local consumers and businesses
• Introduction to a single social tariff to help in struggling homes
• Bringing a formal turnaround rule that can waive a fine against poor performing water companies