This blog will display news and events information in chronological order, newest first, plus a list of the most recent posts. The drop down Category list below It can be filtered by category from the list, which is in alphabetical order.
Registration is now open for all The People’s Commission Events
Please do share with your members and friends
Event One: International Water Systems online. 27th March
Event Two: Resilient Water Systems in Knaresborough. 31st March
Event Three: Governance – Ownership of and Decision-Making on the Water Sector in Whitstable. 1st May.
Event Four: Securing Public Value in Henley on Thames. 10th June.
About the People’s Commission
In October 2024 the government launched an independent commission on the English and Welsh water systems. While we welcome such an initiative, we are concerned that the remit of the government’s commission is restricted in two main ways:
- The scope is limited to improving regulation of the current system rather than considering alternative models of water provision, or providing solutions to ensure we have a robust sustainable and resilient water system.
- Participation in the government’s commission is limited to stakeholders within the sector with little scope for involvement from the public who use water services and whose bills finance the entire water sector.
The People’s Commission, led by four academics from UK universities, aims to broaden the scope of the government commission, with public meetings in local venues across England. We will take evidence from sector experts and water users, and draw on international experience to devise policy options for a sustainable, equitable and effective water system. The People’s Commission is ambitious for a water system that is commensurate with a developed country, that secures our water quality, and that ensures our supply and sewage treatment is resilient in the context of our population and climate, and where water bills deliver clean water for our rivers, lakes and seas. In this respect this People’s Commission shares the government’s vision.
We have considerable analysis of the problem over years of campaigning. The People’s Commission will be solution focused, facing immediate and future problems. We know this is possible. Other countries have water systems that provide better quality affordable water outcomes that are resilient for the future.
You can learn more about the People’s Commission here
The People’s Commission Events
These are the upcoming events and you can see all of the events here
Yorkshire Water Meeting
Yorkshire Water Meeting – Investment to improve Wetherby’s Water
A meeting between WAVCRG and Yorkshire Water yielded positive results today after YW announced an investment programme for Wetherby. Over the next 5 years and as part of a £75 million investment scheme, storage containers will be installed at all 7 outlets that lead into the Wharfe at Wetherby. This will significantly reduce the number of discharges of sewage into the river.
Wetherby will also be receiving an additional investment for Phosphorus works, which will coincide with the 5-year project for storage tanks.
This is a positive step and a move in the right direction to tackle sewage discharges in our river.
Wetherby recently received Bathing Water Status, what does this mean for the proposed improvements?
Due to us being successful in our application for Bathing Water Status, Wetherby will be prioritised in this 5-year programme along the catchment, with other bathing sites like Knaresborough and Ilkley.
Further details of timescales and delivery of the project will be shared over the coming weeks and months.
Councillor Connor Mulhall
Deputy Town Mayor
Two People’s Commission events coming up
Dear friends
PEOPLE”S COMMISSION ON THE WATER SECTOR
Please can you share the two events coming up for the People’s Commission – we want as many people there as possible so we are catalysing a public debate about the future of our water system
The sign up is here
EVENT ONE: International Water Systems
- Thursday 27 March 2025 13:00 16:45 ONLINE
- Evidence from countries that are paying less than England and Wales but getting better water quality in their rivers, lakes and seas.
- Timetable
- 13.15 Chair’s Welcome
13.30 Opening summary Dr Emanuele Lobina, Associate Professor, Public Services International Research Unit (PSIRU), University of Greenwich.
13.50 Witnesses present evidence and their views.
France
France: System overview and Montpellier case study. Marine Colon, Executive head of Joint Research Unit GEAU (Water Matters), lecturer and researcher on water and sanitation utilities’ management. Leads the annual observatory on competition for water and sanitation concession contracts for the French Biodiversity Office.
Paris case study. Anne Le Strat, Senior consultant, Global Water Operators’ Partnerships Alliance, Previously Deputy Mayor in charge of water, sanitation and canals management, Chairwoman and CEO Eau de Paris
14.50 Comfort Break
15.00 Netherlands
Rian Kloosterman. Policy Advisor and Strategist for Drinking Water Infrastructure at Vitens ( largest water utility in the Netherlands15.30 Comfort Break
15.30 Comfort Break
15.40 Witnesses to present evidence and their views.
Germany: Berlin case study.
Vera Weghmann, Director of Public Services International Research Unit (PSIRU) whose research has significantly influenced policy at the European level, contributing to initiatives at the European Parliament and the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work.
Ross Beveridge, Senior Lecturer in Urban Studies , University of Glasgow, and author of ‘A Politics of Inevitability: The Privatisation of the Berlin Water Company, the Global City Discourse and Governance in 1990s Berlin’
16.20 Public response. Members of the Public are invited to respond to what they have heard.
16.40 Thanks, What Next
16.45 Close
EVENT TWO: Resilient Water Systems
- Monday 31 March 2025 11:30 16:00
- Centre on Gracious Street (COGS) Chapel Street, Knaresborough HG5 8AN
Securing water systems that work for people and the environment now and into the future. Evidence from Scientists, Engineers, Water users.
Timetable
11.30 Chair’s Welcome
11.40 Opening summary
12.00 Witnesses present evidence and their views.
Alastair Chisholm, Director of Policy, The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM). A Freshwater Future
Prof Alistair Boxall, University of York. Expert in understanding emerging and future ecological and health risks posed by chemical contaminants in the natural environment. Alistair is Director of the NERC ECORISC Centre for Doctoral Training on environmental risk of chemicals and also lead the NERC ECOMIX project on mixture effects of chemicals in the aquatic environment.
13.10 – 13.30 Lunch break (please bring your own or pop to a local cafe)
13.30 Witnesses present evidence and their views.
Prof Liz Sharp, Sheffield University exploring how the public can be part of the solution to the design of a resilient water system
Engineering Experts provide examples of technical and engineering innovations we should be embracing.
14.45 Public response. Members of the Public are invited to respond to what they have heard.
15.30 Thanks, What Next
15.45 Close
For this event the Panel is joined by Dr David Clayden from the Nidd Action Group
CUNLIFFE COMMISSION
How are you getting on with the 78 questions on the survey? We are going to respond with a letter setting out our concerns most of which are not addressed by the Cunliffe review. We don’t recognise the main ‘what he heard as the main concerns from the people he has met’ . We have an FOI in to find out (a) who Cunliffe consulted with – the 90 people, and also (b) the costs of the Commission.
Overall tweaking the current system is at minimum unimaginative, at worst a terrible waste of this ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity as trailed to review the water system using the very best intelligence and evidence available.
If you have views about what is missing from the Cunliffe review please do email them over.
Many thanks
Prof Becky Malby
Ilkley Clean River Campaign
Tel: 07974777309
Bluesky: @cleanilkley.bsky.social
People’s Commission sessions
Dear friends and river campaigners
The People’s Commission has launched and will be taking place in public and we do hope you and your members can join us at one or more of the sessions.
You can find out all the dates and book in on our website.
If you have evidence you would like to provide please do let us know.
We have had a chance to look at the government’s commission, and the public as key funders, owners, stakeholders are not central to the review, and so far the commission looks like tinkering with the current model rather than taking a more innovative approach to a sustainable future for our rivers, lakes and seas.
We will be in the Guardian today (27th Febrauary, 2025) setting out how we are filling the gaps in the government’s commission, but more importantly we start with what and who matters, the environment and the public.
We hope you can help
Becky, Ewan, Frances, Kate
The People’s Commission Contact
Contact email: peoplescommissionwater@
in addition
Dr Kate Bayliss kb6@soas.ac.uk
Prof Frances Cleaver f.cleaver@lancaster.
Prof Becky Malby profmalby@gmail.com
Prof Ewan McGaughey ewan.mcgaughey@kcl.
The People’s Commission on the Water Sector launches today
The People’s Commission on the Water Sector launches today to review the on-going water sector crisis in England and to devise solutions. Led by four academics from UK Universities the People’s Commission is truly independent and tackles the questions not covered by the Government’s Independent Commission on the Water Sector’s Regulatory System.
Kate Bayliss of SOAS says ” Our water system is not working. Our biggest utility is in financial crisis while raw sewage spilling into our rivers and seas has become the new normal. We need to fully understand what exactly is driving these failings, and why. From here we can devise pragmatic solutions, learning from experience in the UK and abroad, to build a water system in the interests of society and the environment.“
The People’s Commission will be investigating the very best solution for our water sector so that we have a robust and resilient water system fit for now and the future. The People’s Commission is working with sector experts and drawing on international experience to offer a way to secure a water system that is commensurate with a developed country, that secures our water quality, and that ensures our supply and sewage treatment is resilient in the context of our population and climate, and where water bills deliver clean water for our rivers, lakes and seas.
Unlike the Government’s Commission, the People’s Commission will not be restricted to addressing just matters of regulation, it will be looking at international examples, alternative models of ownership, innovation in water services, and securing value for the public whilst protecting our rivers, lakes and seas.
“We need to think more boldly and creatively about alternatives to the failing system of water provision in this country. We can learn so much from experiences of other countries and experiments in different modes of governance. Armed with this knowledge we can shape a more just and sustainable water supply system fit for the challenges of the 21st century.” says Prof Cleaver
The People’s Commission will work in public, with its inquiry sessions taking place in local venues across England, hosted by local people. The Public will participate in all the sessions ensuring that those who use water services and pay for the entire water sector play a full part in the future of the water sector.
“The public is being treated as a minor stakeholder by water companies, regulators and government. We recognise that the public funds our water sector, are dependent on water services, are passionate about their local environment and have been the driving force for change in the water sector over recent years. This commission is in service to the public who want a fair water system that protects their water supply, treats their sewage and looks after their environment. ” Prof Becky Malby, Member.
Feargal Sharkey says “The industry clearly cannot be trusted, neither can the regulators. None of them have the right answers. Its time to listen to the public. Here’s your opportunity.”
The four sessions of the Commission will cover:
- International Water Systems – what works
- Resilient Water Systems – securing water systems that work for people and the environment now and into the future.
- Governance – models of ownership and regulation, and public accountability.
- Securing Public Value – financial management of the water industry
Confirmed witnesses include
Dr Anne Le Strat, previously Deputy Mayor of Paris and Chair of Eau de Paris, Prof Klaas Schwartz, Netherlands (both on international best practice), Alistair Chisholm CIWEM (freshwater future), Stanley Root Auditor (on solutions to finance), Prof David Hall (on public ownership), Feargal Sharkey OBE and Prof Catherine Waddams (on regulation), Prof Alistair Boxall (on solutions to chemical pollution), Dr Liz Sharp (on public strategies), Dr Mike Keil CCW (on water poverty) alongside experts in engineering and technical solutions, public participation in sustainable water solutions, water poverty and mutuals.
Each in-person event is hosted by a local community group and all events are in public.
Notes on The People’s Commission,
- The People’s Commission will mirror the timescales of the Government Commission reporting in Q2.
- Registration for the online international in-public event is open on The People’s Commission website
- All in person events are open for any members of the public to join.
- Evidence can be submitted in writing by the 1st May 2025 to peoplescommissionwater@gmail.com
- All sessions are hosted by members of The Sewage Campaign Network
- The People’s Commission is being minimally funded by private donations with no connection to the water industry. The People’s Commission does not take funding from the government, regulators of the water companies. If you are willing to donate please contact us via the The People’s Commission website
- The Peoples Commission can also be found on Bluesky @peopleswater.bsky.social
The People’s Commission Contact
Contact email: peoplescommissionwater@gmail.com
in addition
Dr Kate Bayliss kb6@soas.ac.uk
Prof Frances Cleaver f.cleaver@lancaster.ac.uk
Prof Becky Malby profmalby@gmail.com
Prof Ewan McGaughey ewan.mcgaughey@kcl.ac.uk
New Inquiry into PR24 etc
EFRA has launched a new Inquiry into reforming the water sector
The Committee will hold the first evidence session of this inquiry in January, where it will consider the impact of Ofwat’s final determination on how much water bills will be permitted to rise over the next five years. It will then take evidence from some of the worst performing water companies to determine what has gone wrong in the sector and how the Government can make improvements.
This new inquiry will examine the Government’s work taking place in this area, including the progress of the Water (Special Measures) Bill, and the work of the Government’s Independent Commission into the water sector, which is expected to report in mid-2025.
THIS MEANS we need letters to MPs asap. If any of your members haven’t written to your MP please can you ask them too. Here is the link to the template letter
https://campaigns.
Thanks all
Prof Becky Malby
Water (Special Measures) Bill Labour not suporting our amendments
Dear friends
You have seen the amendments to the Water (Special Measures) Bill that were supported firstly by Lord Prem Sikka (Labour) and Baroness Jenny Jones (Green) in the Lords, and rejected; and now by Tim Farron and Charlie Marshall (Lib dem) in the committee stage – and are still being rejected.
This is the list of MPs on the Committee.
Of these, 4 came to our briefing at the HoP in December:
Amanda Hack (NW Leicester, Labour)
Catherine Fookes (Monmouthshire, Labour)
Jayne Kirkham (Truro and Falmouth, Labour)
Charlie Maynard (Witney, Lib Dem) – the WASP MP, and Charlie sponsored all our amendments into this committee
If your MP is on the Committee
(a) please can you let us know and
(b) please can you get in touch with them before the final committee meetings this week which are on Tuesday and Thursday, to lobby them to support our amendments.
We are asking that the Committee supports our amendments which in the current Bill format are as follows:
-
The government clarify and enforce existing legislation
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Stop untreated sewage discharges outside Exceptional Circumstances (to comply with the 1994 act)
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Put failing water companies into special administration (Amend Section 12 – 14)
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Convict Directors that fail to address prosecutable offenses (Amend section 5-7 ).
-
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That the Water (Special Measures Bill) is further amended to:
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Reform the duties of Ofwat to be for clean water, conservation and reasonable bills (Amend Section 9).
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Prohibits public bailout of the water industry (Amend Section 12 Modification by Secretary of State of water company’s appointment conditions etc to recover losses).
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Put employees and bill payers on the Boards of water companies (Addition to Section 1)
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Require volume monitoring on every outflow and public scrutiny of all water company self-monitoring of water quality (Amend section 3 141F Reporting on discharge from emergency overflows)
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Many thanks all
Prof Becky Malby
Ilkley Clean River Group
Ofwat rises prices further than they trailed in July An average of £31 a year
Message from Professor Becky Malby of ICRG
OFWAT PRICE RISES
Ofwat rises prices further than they trailed in July. An average of £31 a year
Anglian 29%
Northumbrian 21%
Severn Trent 47%
South West 23%
Southern Water 53%
Thames 35%
United Utilities 32%
Wessex 21%
Yorkshire Water 41%
URGENT: ASK YOUR MP TO STOP WATER BILL RISES
We have a pre-populated letter for everyone to send to their MPs. All you need to do is pop in your postcode and it generates the email to send.
Please ask all your campaign followers and members to send urgently today.
TEMPLATE LETTER TEXT IN CASE OF ANY GLITCHES
Dear [insert MP name]
I am angry and alarmed at today’s huge price rises for water, and write to ask you to require this government to stop the bill rises until all criminal investigations of water companies are completed, and the government has fully investigated water company finances.
It is shocking in the midst of a cost of living crisis, to be asked to pay more whilst wealthy shareholders continue to extract money, and we continue to be cheated from the services we are paying for – the treatment of our sewage. We have no choice in who provides our water and sewerage services, we are captive customers and therefore powerless.
We know that the water industry has already received all the investment it needs to fund the infrastructure upgrades necessary to comply with the law, with £17bn spare, so why are we being asked to pay again for a service we should already have received?
The public has had enough of the illegality and mismanagement at the heart of the UK’s privatised water industry. I hope you will stand up for us in opposing these bill increases and in pushing for a fairer water system that puts people and nature, not shareholder profit, at its heart.
Thank you
Prof Becky Malby
Swimming status of Ilkley’s River Wharfe in limbo over sewage pollution
Stretch of river in West Yorkshire was first to get bathing status in 2020 but has since recorded poor water quality.
That’s the headline in today’s Guardian.
The first river to be given bathing water status in England is in limbo waiting for the Environment Agency (EA) to approve crucial nature-based solutions that are part of £43m in improvements to cut sewage pollution.
You can read the whole article by clicking here
River Wharfe Revealed to Have Concerning Pollution Levels
Recent testing conducted by Wetherby and Villages Clean River Group, in partnership with Surfers Against Sewage, Watershed, and York University has highlighted alarming pollution levels in the River Wharfe at Wetherby. Over a week of monitoring in August this year, 17 sites were analysed, with Wetherby often recording higher levels of harmful bacteria and pollutants compared to Ilkley.
Bacteria Levels Exceed Thresholds
Testing showed consistently high levels of E. Coli and coliform bacteria, indicators of faecal contamination:
- Day 1: Wetherby ranked 4th worst for E. Coli and 5th for coliform bacteria.
- Day 4: E. Coli levels were the 2nd highest, and coliforms ranked 1st, both exceeding Ilkley’s measurements.
- Day 7: Wetherby was 4th worst for E. Coli and 3rd for coliforms, remaining significantly polluted.
Chemical Pollution – Top 3 Contaminants in Wetherby
Additional testing identified 43 unique pollutants, with a worrying concentration of industrial and pharmaceutical residues. The top three pollutants were:
- Chrysene – Found in coal tar, bitumen, and asphalt, commonly used in road and roofing materials.
- Metformin – A widely prescribed medication for Type 2 diabetes, indicative of wastewater contamination.
- Fexofenadine – An antihistamine used to treat allergies, also linked to pharmaceutical discharge.
Comparison with Ilkley
Ilkley is a key comparison further up the Wharfe, their top pollutants included metformin, caffeine, and nicotine, while Wetherby’s profile includes a significant industrial contaminant, chrysene, suggesting differing pollution sources and risks.
The next steps
The results provide a positive lever in effecting change to improve the river Wharfe. Working with Yorkshire Water, The Environment agency, Local and National Government, we will be pressing for practical measures to ensure a reduction in human and pollutant waste.
Read today’s article in The Times
