Rebranding Won’t Fix UK’s Water Crisis

If ministers truly want to fix the water system for good, they must start putting the public interest, environmental protection and workers’ expertise at the centre of reform.

By Donna Rowe-Merriman, UNISON national secretary for business, community and environment.

The government says its new Water White Paper represents a ‘once-in-a-generation’ plan to transform the water sector in England.

But unless ministers are prepared to confront the root causes of the crisis – including the failures of privatisation – it risks becoming yet another missed opportunity to deliver the clean, resilient water system the public deserves.

Across England, the public are angry about sewage pollution, rising bills and failing infrastructure. This is no longer confined to campaign groups or environmental organisations. Communities see rivers polluted, coastlines damaged, and regulators stretched beyond capacity. People are asking: how did we get here? And why does it feel like nothing ever changes?

Read on Unison.org