Once-in-a-generation’ reform of water industry in Wales unveiled
Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter
Wales will create its own standalone water regulator in a “once-in-a-generation” revamp of the industry aimed at clearing up rivers and delivering better value for bill payers.
Huw Irranca-Davies, the deputy first minister, confirmed the Welsh Government will seek new powers as he announced plans to create a system “designed in Wales, for Wales”.
The move follows the findings of an independent water commission report which concluded the system for regulating water in Wales and England needs a reset to restore people’s trust.
Mr Irranca-Davies warned the current regulatory model is an “out of date” legacy from before devolution “rooted in competition” as he outlined a “more ethical, collaborative” approach.
“Things need to change and the truth is, we must do them better,” he said. “At present, our water system does not work as well as it should – or as well as it could – for people or for the environment in Wales.”
The deputy first minister told Senedd members: “The reforms we embark on today will shape the future of water in Wales for decades to come.”
‘No illusions’
But, in today’s (October 21) statement, he warned reforms “will take work and will take time” with laws needing to be passed in the UK Parliament then the Senedd.
Mr Irranca-Davies, who is also climate and rural affairs secretary, cautioned: “We should be under no illusions – the scale, breadth, and complexity of water sector reform is significant.”
He said ministers would create an economic regulator for water in Wales in line with the independent commission’s recommendations.
The report of the commission – led by Sir Jon Cunliffe – warned of “ongoing concerns about Ofwat’s ability to balance the needs of England with the needs of Wales”.
Mr Irranca-Davies said the Welsh Government would consult this year on plans to ensure the new system is fit for purpose and work on a shared transition plan with UK ministers.
He pointed out that Wales already diverts from the approach across the border, with Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water the UK’s only not-for-profit water company.
‘Shameful’
Janet Finch-Saunders, the Tories’ shadow environment secretary, welcomed the statement, recognising the need for legislative change and devolving more powers to Wales.
She called for clarity on the timescales involved and cautioned of cross-border complexity.
Mr Irranca-Davies replied: “We could be looking at several years to bring this through and properly engage and design this system but we need to get this right.”
Delyth Jewell, Plaid Cymru’s shadow environment secretary, warned the benefits of water – a resource Wales is blessed with – too often do not flow back to communities.
Backing the proposed overhaul, she told the Senedd: “The people of Wales have to pay some of the highest bills in these islands and water poverty remains a problem.”
Jane Dodds, the Liberal Democrats’ leader in Wales, pointed out that the new Welsh Water chief executive is set to receive a “shameful” £460,000 a year plus up to £621,000 extra.
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> Janet Finch-Saunders, the Tories’ shadow environment secretary, welcomed the statement, recognising the need for legislative change and devolving more powers to Wales.
You wat. A tory statement that I can get behind!? … this climate change thing is real, I think hell just froze over.
More hot air from Labour. Nothing will change.
Good news indeed. The current state of water leakages and discharges is down to very very poor management. In fact, the current lot could not run a tap let alone a company. Notices should be handed out to the top tier to clear their desks and get out the door without bonuses and fancy pensions for complete failure. There are too many top dogs in industry receiving rewards for mismanagement and failure.
Well done to Jane Dodds for pointing out the crazy money the chief executive is making. How will this useless and most likely toothless venture help with that? A not for profit organisation but plenty of profits to the top brass and meanwhile they keep dumping into rivers and surrounding waters and the customers will have to pay more in our bills to sort out their mess.
The whole of the Welsh public sector needs an overhaul.
In 1950 the Heads of Valleys roads was designed, construction started until funding ran out, more funding in 2000s and just completed. This is pathetic, yet Welsh Government audit report does not cover all stages of the 70 year project https://www.wao.gov.uk/publication/a465-section-2-update-report
So we must question if a better auditor is required?
This would be a good opportunity to revisit what Crown Estate charge for water.
Now after all these years with the end in sight, before the final curtain comes down and yesterday’s failures have to give up the stage to the enlarged church amateur-dramatic society’s production with a cast of thousands of hanger-ons…aliens of another kind…
Such an elegant holder of the pen Huw Day Out is, BBC Wales is bound to snap him up next summer.
Mid-Wales, why do you deserve the worst railway, insecure health care and the removal of local air ambulance cover when logic screams otherwise?
MM Shout louder, they are not listening down in the Bay bubble. Or make something go off with a bang nearby. That might get them to sit up and tune in. To his credit HuwDayOut is one of the more fluent presenters at Y Senedd so he might well turn up doing the news and a spot of current affairs. He knows where a lot of the boobytraps and skeletons are located.
I’m sure Mr Sheen could make an actor of him in no time, even as a mature male model Huw has a much better future in front of him than his namesake.
There is an ache in the pit of my stomach worse than the thought of Wrecsam losing…
Brexit really hurt but ‘Putin’s Gobby Blinders’
The Clockwork Orange Jesus and Zombie Cannibal Miller et al…
How the West was Lost…
I thought they were going to announce that Wales will be charging a realistic abstraction fee for all the water that goes to England on the cheap
It might be a case of be careful what you wish for if reciprocally England decided to charge Wales for something it considers its getting on the cheap .
Whitehall is already keeping a large chunk of “England and Wales” rail funding to spend in England.
Agree with Jane Todd’s. There always seems to be well paid panels decidingvon crazy salaries for topnexecutives, yet no panels to decide decent benefit levels or living wages.
How will the Senedd election affect this?
Presumably Reform will privatise water and abolish the regulator.
Replace top personnel wherever possible with his gang members like Twmp has done…
The UK has been the surrogate mother for much of this assault on Democracy…
Fat Shanks was the test shot and look what his ‘Effect’ has had on the UK…
Putin’s Gobby Blinders…
Rubbish, look what privatisation as done for England, all water boards are in financial difficulties, no maintenance been carried out, now someone as to sort that out, ie tax payers. There must be dozens of people that would snap up the job of CEO of the water Board at half the rate being paid.
Water and sewerage services in Wales needs a more radical approach than currently.Nationalise the water industry but run it for the benefit of the bill payers and environment, not senior executives. Having said that the NRW doesn’t seem to outperform the EA in anyway so this needs truly effective management without the Woke agenda wasting money on nonsense!
What’s woke about clean water?
Is this likely to be devolved before the Senedd election?
I expect it won’t be fully implemented for two years but is the legislation to devolve it likely to be passed and transitional arrangements in place before the Senedd election?
And while you’re at it, make English companies pay a fair price for the water they receive. This is from Ofwat’s website:
Dŵr Cymru is the largest exporter of water in the UK by some margin, these trades are dominated by the export from Elan Valley to Severn Trent at a price significantly less that the price paid by Welsh Water customers.
We cant do that because England might increase the price it charges for all the Welsh patients it has to treat. Where would the Welsh NHS be without English hospitals.
Too late.
“Powys health board hit by cost hikes from NHS England”
https://www.countytimes.co.uk/news/25510417.powys-health-board-hit-cost-hikes-nhs-england/
And where would English pensioneers in Wales be without the Welsh NHS??