
Huge changes to water companies set out this week will 'make bills fair'
Water company bosses are bracing themselves ahead of a report that's expected to demand sweeping changes to the industry this week.
Ministers have told firms they must do more if they want to restore public trust - as complaints continue to rise and half of Brits feel they're being ripped off.
MPs and watchdogs have to wade through a steady stream of locals complaining about floods, burst pipes and loss of service.
In one case, a dog was left with E.coli poisoning after playing in a polluted river.
Others have seen businesses losing thousands of pounds after their water supply was unexpectedly cut off - with no compensation offered.
Environment Secretary Steve Reed is set to pledge to cut sewage pollution in half within five years - promising one of the largest infrastructure projects in England's history to clean up our rivers.
And it's thought the Government is primed to announce regulator Ofwat is to be scrapped in response to the Independent Water Commission's report, to be published on Monday.
Water Minister Emma Hardy told the Sunday Mirror only 'root and branch reform' will restore public faith in water firms.
'In 21st century Britain, clean rivers, lakes and seas should be a basic right and not a luxury, but consumers are being failed by the current system,' she said.
'We have already ended the culture of unfair bonuses for polluting water bosses and secured £104 billion of investment to begin the job of upgrading our crumbling infrastructure.
'But we know that root and branch reform is vital to put the British public at the heart of water company priorities. They must be properly run, with bills that are fair and sustainable for households.'
Monday's report, led by Sir Jon Cunliffe examined regulation, water bills and support for customers.
Environment Secretary Steve Reed said: 'Families have watched their local rivers, coastlines and lakes suffer from record levels of pollution.
'My pledge to you: the Government will halve sewage pollution from water companies by the end of the decade.
'One of the largest infrastructure projects in England's history will clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Metro
8 minutes ago
- Metro
Trump insists he turned down invitation to Epstein island
President Donald Trump has insisted that he turned down 'the privilege' of visiting the late Jeffrey Epstein's infamous private island. Trump said he rejected an invitation to the Caribbean island Little Saint James, where many of Epstein's alleged sex crimes were committed. 'I never had the privilege of going to his island, and I did turn it down, but a lot of people in Palm Beach were invited to his island,' Trump told reporters on Monday. 'In one of my very good moments, I turned it down. 'I didn't want to go to his island.' Trump was asked about his administration's ongoing Epstein controversy during a bilateral meeting with British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in Turnberry, Scotland. The US president has previously denied ever going to Epstein's 75-acre paradise in the US Virgin Islands. The disgraced financier and convicted sex offender, assisted by his girlfriend and accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, allegedly sex trafficked young women and underage girls at the island. On Monday, Trump also said that Epstein 'stole' people who worked for him by hiring them away. 'I said, 'Don't ever do that again.' He did it again,' Trump said. 'And I threw him out of the place persona non grata. I threw him out, and that was it. I'm glad I did, if you want to know the truth. And by the way, I never went to the island.' He added that he wouldn't speak to Epstein for years 'because he did something that was inappropriate'. White House spokesman Steven Cheung last week stated that 'the fact is that The President kicked (Epstein) out of his (Mar-a-Lago) club for being a creep'. The Trump administration has continued to face backlash on its handling of the Epstein case after the Justice Department and FBI earlier this monthsaid there was no incriminating client list, despite previous promises to release the documents. More Trending Trump's name is in flight logs from Epstein's plane, ABC News reported. However, most of the flights recorded are from Palm Beach, Florida, to Teterboro, New Jersey. Epstein purchased Little St James, dubbed 'Pedophile Island', in 1998. Numerous politicians, celebrities and public figures stayed there overnight. Trump on Monday again did not rule out clemency for Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking. He said, as he did last week, that he is 'allowed to give her a pardon' but has not been asked about it, and 'right now it would be inappropriate to talk about it'. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Donald Trump bizarrely demands Beyonce is 'prosecuted' for supporting Kamala Harris MORE: 'Awkward' Keir Starmer tried to rekindle 'bromance' with Donald Trump during visit MORE: Multiple people injured in mass shooting at Reno resort

South Wales Argus
13 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Sarina Wiegman urges more investment in women's game at Downing Street reception
After successfully defending their European crown with a penalty shoot-out victory over Spain in the tournament's showpiece in Basel on Sunday evening, the England team flew home to attend a reception hosted by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and sports minister Stephanie Peacock. The team arrived just before 7pm, with Number 10 decorated for the occasion with St George's flags draped over windows and bunting along the railings. England's manager Sarina Wiegman (right) takes a selfie during the Downing Street reception (Richard Pohle/The Times) As Wiegman rose to speak to those gathered in the Downing Street garden she joked that 'this is different from standing next to a pitch'. She added: 'I have to make my apologies (for giving) you lots of heart attacks. You all made it through and we made it through and that's why we're here now. 'The team is just incredible, we won the Euros but making the final, we're already legendary, what the team has done and the team behind the team. 'Thank you so much for having us here. It's very, very special to be here and to be in this very nice garden with the way you set it up with all these pictures, it makes it more special, it's the first moment it sinks in a little bit because it was surreal what happened last night.' Sarina Wiegman called for further investment in the women's game during a speech at Downing Street (Richard Pohle/The Times) Wiegman, speaking a few hours before the Government announced a new package of measures to boost access to grassroots football, used the moment to call for further investment in the game. 'This incredible team won the Euros and then straightaway sent a letter to you, the Government, asking for attention and asking for access to football for all girls,' Wiegman said. 'Steps have been taken but we're not done yet, we have to keep moving forward and we need a little bit more. 'I heard we need to change some things about taxes…I think we have that confirmation tonight. So let's move forward. 'We need some more investment. We're not there yet. In England we're up there but England needs to stay the trailblazer, it needs to be the big example. The players first but also the FA, the clubs, the Government, the country, the fans – let's keep being the trailblazers.' In her own speech, Rayner congratulated Wiegman's team on defending their title 'with grit, with determination and with skill'. 'You roared, and I know I wasn't the only one roaring with you,' Rayner said. Chloe Kelly scored the decisive penalty for England in the shoot-out after goalkeeper Hannah Hampton made two outstanding saves. The game had gone to extra time and spot-kicks after Alessia Russo cancelled out the opener from Arsenal team-mate Mariona Caldentey as it finished 1-1 following extra time. After almost a month of competition in Switzerland, the team's plane branded with the word 'home' touched down at Southend Airport on Monday afternoon. In a post on X, the team shared a photo of the Euros trophy draped in an England flag on a seat on the plane. Holding the trophy, captain Leah Williamson was first to step off the plane alongside Wiegman. Outside the airport, crowds were lined up to welcome the team and the trophy back home. The team were greeted by fans waiting outside the airport (Yui Mok/PA) A homecoming open-top bus parade follows in central London on Tuesday, where there will be a procession along The Mall and the celebration will finish with a staged ceremony at the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace. A trip to the Palace or Windsor Castle may be on the cards for the winning squad as it is understood possible plans for a reception in the autumn are being explored by royal aides. Defender Jess Carter has not joined her team-mates for the celebrations in London as she has returned to the United States ahead of Gotham FC's NWSL match against the Chicago Stars on Saturday.


North Wales Chronicle
13 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Sarina Wiegman urges more investment in women's game at Downing Street reception
After successfully defending their European crown with a penalty shoot-out victory over Spain in the tournament's showpiece in Basel on Sunday evening, the England team flew home to attend a reception hosted by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and sports minister Stephanie Peacock. The team arrived just before 7pm, with Number 10 decorated for the occasion with St George's flags draped over windows and bunting along the railings. As Wiegman rose to speak to those gathered in the Downing Street garden she joked that 'this is different from standing next to a pitch'. She added: 'I have to make my apologies (for giving) you lots of heart attacks. You all made it through and we made it through and that's why we're here now. 'The team is just incredible, we won the Euros but making the final, we're already legendary, what the team has done and the team behind the team. 'Thank you so much for having us here. It's very, very special to be here and to be in this very nice garden with the way you set it up with all these pictures, it makes it more special, it's the first moment it sinks in a little bit because it was surreal what happened last night.' Wiegman, speaking a few hours before the Government announced a new package of measures to boost access to grassroots football, used the moment to call for further investment in the game. 'This incredible team won the Euros and then straightaway sent a letter to you, the Government, asking for attention and asking for access to football for all girls,' Wiegman said. 'Steps have been taken but we're not done yet, we have to keep moving forward and we need a little bit more. 'I heard we need to change some things about taxes…I think we have that confirmation tonight. So let's move forward. 'We need some more investment. We're not there yet. In England we're up there but England needs to stay the trailblazer, it needs to be the big example. The players first but also the FA, the clubs, the Government, the country, the fans – let's keep being the trailblazers.' In her own speech, Rayner congratulated Wiegman's team on defending their title 'with grit, with determination and with skill'. 'You roared, and I know I wasn't the only one roaring with you,' Rayner said. Chloe Kelly scored the decisive penalty for England in the shoot-out after goalkeeper Hannah Hampton made two outstanding saves. The game had gone to extra time and spot-kicks after Alessia Russo cancelled out the opener from Arsenal team-mate Mariona Caldentey as it finished 1-1 following extra time. Welcome home, #Lionesses! 👋 — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 28, 2025 After almost a month of competition in Switzerland, the team's plane branded with the word 'home' touched down at Southend Airport on Monday afternoon. In a post on X, the team shared a photo of the Euros trophy draped in an England flag on a seat on the plane. Holding the trophy, captain Leah Williamson was first to step off the plane alongside Wiegman. Outside the airport, crowds were lined up to welcome the team and the trophy back home. A homecoming open-top bus parade follows in central London on Tuesday, where there will be a procession along The Mall and the celebration will finish with a staged ceremony at the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace. A trip to the Palace or Windsor Castle may be on the cards for the winning squad as it is understood possible plans for a reception in the autumn are being explored by royal aides. Defender Jess Carter has not joined her team-mates for the celebrations in London as she has returned to the United States ahead of Gotham FC's NWSL match against the Chicago Stars on Saturday.