British Rowing’s response to the Water Reform White Paper
The Clean Water Sport Alliance highlights the new Water Reform White Paper, A New Vision for Water, strengthens oversight of water firms but misses an opportunity to better protect river users
The River Dart. Photo: RMalt
In 2024, England experienced a record 3.61 million hours of sewage discharge through storm overflows.
Water companies were ordered to spend £104 billion and cut sewage discharges by nearly half over five years.
British Rowing and our partners in the Clean Water Sport Alliance have been pushing hard for reform to include better protections for the public and recreational users.
The Clean Water Sports Alliance has called for:
- Creation of a clear public health objective in the new legislation
- Greater prioritisation given to interventions that address the risk posed to public health by microbial and chemical pollutants by further reform of regulations
- Introduce regional governance that includes recreational users in decision making.
However, while the Independent Water Commission report recognised the importance of public health, the government’s White Paper today seems to give very little detail about what action it intends to take to safeguard our health.
Among the new proposals is a new Chief Engineer, to sit inside the new single water regulator. Their job will be to oversee checks on the water infrastructure, rather than water firms ‘marking their own homework’.
The new single regulator which will replace OFWAT, will also introduce an ‘MOT’ approach for water company infrastructure, requiring regular health checks on pipes and pumps to reduce the risk of failure.
The government has also set out how it will overhaul the complex and costly strategic planning process, reducing the number of planning frameworks from 20, to just two.
Other measures include rolling-out of smart metering and mandatory efficiency labels on items like dishwashers and washing machines to help households monitor their water use.
However, British Rowing feels the paper delivers mixed messages on public health. It is unclear what specific actions will be taken to safeguard the health of the public, beyond protecting the cleanliness of drinking water.
The Independent Water Commission was clear on what it saw was required to better protect human health from harm. These recommendations are largely missing.
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Chair of British Rowing Diana Hunter said, “Our water is vital to those who row all over the country and it is essential that we do all we can to protect it. While I welcome the Water Reform White Paper, it is important to stress that more can always be done to ensure the longevity and cleanliness of rivers and waterways so that the public can enjoy them for years to come.
“I look forward to British Rowing working with the Clean Water Sports Alliance and other key stakeholders on this important piece of work.”
“British Rowing welcomes the publication of the Water Reform White Paper. British Rowing, as part of the Clean Water Sports Alliance, was consulted as part of the Independent Water Commission to which the White Paper is a response,” said Rachel Dulai, British Rowing’s Sustainability Lead.
“There are many good elements in the White Paper and it’s great to see the suggestion of inter-department working – particularly regarding road run-off.
“The sections on ‘Keeping our Water Safe’ and ‘Stopping Pollution Early’ mention ” access to clean and safe waters for recreation” being incorporated in future policy reforms including supporting ‘pre-pipe’ solutions – but there isn’t detail on what this is.
“We will be working with the Clean Water Sports Alliance to get this detail and to really push for clear measures to ensure rowers are enjoying clean and safe waters.”
Read the White Paper in full here.
“These are once-in-a-generation reforms for our water system – tough oversight, real accountability, and no more excuses,” said Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds.
“Water companies will have nowhere to hide from poor performance, customers will get the service they deserve, and investors will see a system built for the future.
“This builds on the tough action we’ve already delivered, from record investment to banning unfair bonuses.”
