Pollard: We need to turn water industry on its head

Tackling the climate and ecological crisis requires “fundamental change” in how natural resources are used, Luke Pollard, shadow environment minister has told the Waterwise 2021 conference.

He said his party would be creating greater energy around the debate in the coming months via “pokes and nudges” and outlined work needed from all stakeholders.

“Business as usual is not the answer to this. Water companies need to reflect carefully on what they can do within their business plans especially restricted ones. Regulators will have to look at how they can change regulation of future plans, ministers will have to look at how they see the approach of it and everyone will have to look at how we use our water differently.”

Without this, he warned net zero targets would not be met.

Pollard, a self-confessed enthusiast of water policy, said: “If we are to tackle the climate and ecological crisis, we need to reflect on how the water industry works and that means turning it on its head.”

This, he said, would require a move away from companies focusing on the volume through their pipes and regulated returns on infrastructure.

“That was the model that worked but it’s not a model that works to deal with the climate crisis because we now need water companies to incentivise and push people to use much less water.”

Pollard called on government to be more ambitious in mandating consumption targets, water labelling and more support to help customers understand how to use less water.

To address the gap in recognition between water and carbon use and understanding of consumption, Pollard recommended not only a step up in company plans to roll out meters, but to make them visible to consumers.

He said meters should be installed in kitchens, not out in the street, to help people keep track of usage and understand why fixing leaks is so important.

Pollard advocated for rapid acceleration in the separation of surface run off and wastewater to become mainstream, with a context and framework about where such schemes need to get to.

“We haven’t got the net zero equivalent for water or for biodiversity which is another area water companies can make a big impact. We need people to look again at this.”

On the Environment Bill, Pollard said “nearly every sensible suggestion” had been refused by government but said it would give the government a requirement to set lots of targets to be regulated against.

“The pace of change that we need in water and the restrictions of business plans don’t always sit easily together. We need to use this period when Ofwat are looking at how plans might work in the future to set our expectations for the next period higher than they are at the moment.”