The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee is launching an inquiry into the regulation of the UK’s water industry.

The chair of the committee, Neil Parish MP, explained at the announcement of the inquiry that “the water industry is facing a number of challenges.  As the UK’s population increases and the impact of climate change becomes more apparent, pressure will be put on water resources and the industry’s ability to provide a reliable and safe supply of water to commercial and domestic customers”.

The focus of the enquiry is to: -

• Consider how well the water industry serves customers and the environment
• Understand how innovation can be encouraged
• Determine whether current regulatory enforcement mechanisms are fit for purpose

The inquiry also aims to discover whether there are potential benefits of regulatory divergence post-Brexit.