Will scrapping of water watchdog for ‘tougher’ regulator be a boost to North Devon’s beaches?

The news water watchdog Ofwat is to be scraped and a new tougher regulator set in its place has been welcomed by North Devon’s MP.

Ian Roome said he and Liberal Democrat colleagues had been calling for stronger regulation of water companies to tackle sewage dumping after setting it out in the party manifesto last year.

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This week, Environment Secretary Steve Reed said Ofwat would be scrapped and replaced to overhaul a ‘broken’ system, following a report on the Independent Water Commission review launched by Jon Cunliffe

The report recommended Ofwat is replaced by a body with supervisory powers, similar to the strict oversight of banks after the 2008 financial crash and experts would be appointed to work inside water companies to ensure they are obeying the law and improving the environment.

North Devon and the wider South West has seen multiple sewage and waste water spills in recent years – earlier this month South West Water agreed to pay a £24million ‘enforcement package’ after an investigation by Ofwat.

Ian Roome welcomed the introduction of tougher regulations and said it was ‘a victory for local people’.

He said: “We Lib Dems have been calling for this continuously, so I’m pleased that action is finally being taken.

“North Devon’s beaches and rivers are one of the best things about living here, but they’re being put at risk by sewage spills and Ofwat’s and South West Water’s failings.

“In fact, South West Water was responsible for the longest sewage spill in the whole country in 2024. It’s just not good enough.

“This wouldn’t be happening without the incredible support we received from people across North Devon at the general election last year. I heard from countless people who were furious about the state of our local rivers and beaches and the water companies being let off the hook.

“This fight is far from over. The government must now get on with setting up a new, stronger regulator to hold water companies to account.

“I will be relentlessly fighting to ensure sewage spills are stopped, bills brought down, and our waterways cleaned up for everyone to enjoy in future.”

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The recent Ofwat investigation found SWW had failed to build and operate its wastewater treatment works and sewer networks to ensure they performed sufficiently.

Ofwat said the company did not have in place adequate management systems to ensure it was meeting its legal obligations, including adequate oversight from its senior management team and board.

SWW did not dispute the findings although referred to some instances as ‘historical’ and said it proposed a ring-fenced investment programme of £24m to spend more to ‘further reduce spills, tackle sewer misuse and establish a Nature Recovery Fund’.