Tim Farron presents bill to Parliament calling for new tough water regulator

Cumbrian MP Tim Farron has presented a Private Members Bill in the House of Commons this week, which calls for a new regulator to take action against water companies which pollute rivers and lakes.

The Clean Water Authority, which would replace Ofwat, would have powers to:

• Ban bonuses for water company bosses
• Revoke the licence of poorly performing water companies swiftly
• Force water firms to publish the full scale of their sewage spills
• Reform water companies to put local environmental experts on the boards of companies
• Set legally binding targets on sewage discharges

Last year in Cumbria, sewage was discharged for:

• 4,700 hours at Cartmel in Cark Pumping Station into the River Eea
• 2,500 hours at Kirkby Stephen Wastewater Treatment Works into the River Eden

After presenting the bill, Tim said: “For too long, water companies have been able to get away with polluting our precious lakes, rivers and seas.

“Through a tough new regulator, we will make sure water companies put the environment and their customers first instead of lining the pockets of their shareholders.

“If the Government are serious about tackling this issue then they must back my bill.”