21st July 2025

Labour has announced more plans in its mission to clean up Britain’s waterways and hold water companies to account by creating an independent Water Ombudsman.

This new body will act on repeated failures in the water industry and give the public a stronger voice when things go wrong.

Water customers will have more support than ever before when faced with leaking pipes, incorrect bills or water supply issues. Customers will be able to use a single, free point of contact.

A record £104 billion will be invested to upgrade pipes and sewage treatment across the country. Customer bills will be strictly used for these improvements, not shareholder payouts. Over £100 million will fund local clean-up projects, supported by a £189 million budget for water regulation enforcement. Polluting companies must now pay prosecution costs, enabling stronger regulation. New laws ban plastic wet wipes and penalise polluting water bosses, including possible prison sentences.

In Kingston and Surbiton, the local Labour team has been leading the fight for cleaner rivers and tougher action on polluters. Campaigners have long called out Thames Water for sewage dumping and demanded investment in essential infrastructure — not just shareholder dividends.

Local efforts have focused on protecting the Hogsmill River and the Green Lanes stream, which have both suffered from pollution. Labour activists have worked to highlight these issues and push for urgent action to protect these vital local waterways.

Labour is already delivering on its commitment to clean up our rivers with stronger regulation, new legislation, and a clear message to water companies: the era of polluting with impunity is over.

In a speech today, Environment Secretary Steve Reed said: “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.”

More here.