Ofwat bill rise comments 'utter disgrace'

Gary Carter, GMB National Officer, said:

GMB, the union for water workers, has responded to Ofwat’s comments today that water companies will be seeking big bill rises as they face huge infrastructure investment demands

“Water companies have showered shareholders and bosses with billions will our infrastructure goes down the plug hole.

“For them to then expect customers and workers to stump up the money to stop leaks and clean up sewage – not to mention service water companies' massive debts – is an utter disgrace.

"Ofwat has failed miserably to regulate the water companies and should stop trying to defend the indefensible.

“On its watch, water companies have run up huge debt while paying the top brass fortunes and pumping raw sewage into our rivers and seas.

“The Government and Ofwat cannot continue to sit on their hands and do nothing.

“The current ownership model is broken.”