Water companies will receive ‘MOT checks’ on infrastructure quality by a new regulator with stronger powers to conduct surprise inspections and fix failures faster
Water companies are poised to undergo “MOT checks” assessing the condition of their infrastructure as part of a comprehensive regulatory shake-up designed to tackle deteriorating pipes, sewage mismanagement and substandard services.
Utility firms will be subject to “health checks” evaluating the state of pumps and pipework by a new water regulator due to be established under the government’s water white paper.
When companies fail to meet standards, a new “performance improvement regime” will empower the regulator to intervene more swiftly to address shortcomings in an effort to accelerate recovery for underperforming water companies.
Enhanced inspection capabilities, including the new regulator’s authority to carry out unannounced inspections, are intended to stop water companies from “marking their own homework”, whilst a new “Chief Engineer” will be embedded within the single water regulator to supervise these practical assessments.
Environment secretary Emma Reynolds declared: “Water companies will have nowhere to hide from poor performance,” before adding: “Investors will see a system built for the future.”, as reported by City AM.
Complementing the new regulatory framework, the proposals will also mandate efficiency labels on appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines in an attempt to help households track their water consumption and reduce expenses, a measure the government claims will deliver savings exceeding £125m on water and energy bills over the coming decade.
The regulatory revamp comes after a period of instability for the UK’s water utilities sector, marked by widespread outages, numerous significant sewage spills, and Thames Water – London’s primary supplier – teetering on the brink of collapse under the burden of billions in debt.
Industry data revealed a 60% surge in serious sewage spills to 75 separate incidents in 2025, while an electrical fault at a local treatment plant recently disrupted water supply to thousands of homes in Kent.
Gary Carter, national officer of the GMB union, called for robust powers for the new regulator, stating: “The government has to give its new regulator the teeth to inspect, talk to workers, and to hold water companies to account”.
He added: “If private companies refuse to invest the money they’ve received through record bill rises – and circumvent bonus legislation – then they’re not fit to be running water infrastructure.”
A government spokesperson responded, saying: “Backed by £104bn of private investment over five years, this shift towards proactive maintenance of water company assets will fix failing infrastructure [and] end mismanagement.”
