Tuesday 21st October, 2025
Wales’s Deputy First Minister gave a statement in the Senedd this afternoon regarding the reform of regulation of the water industry. This followed the joint Wales/England review of the sector led by Sir Jon Cunliffe that reported in July.
Welsh Government’s plans for a new, independent regulatory body are welcome. Also encouraging is the ambition to strengthen devolved powers for Wales’s ability to implement tighter environmental legislation and delivery.
However, the time these reforms will take to implement is concerning. They could take several years according to the Deputy First Minister. Aside from needing approval in Westminster and Cardiff, next year’s Senedd elections are likely to delay the process further.
This risks Wales lagging behind in the restructure of water industry regulation. The subsequent announcement by the Westminster Government that the Environment Agency had been given new powers to impose automatic fines on water companies in England for smaller offences is evidence that this is already happening.
These are delays that Welsh rivers cannot afford.
Today’s Senedd statement also did little to clarify how cross border rivers will be dealt with within a new regulatory framework.
And it must also be remembered that this reform process focuses only on the water industry. Action is urgently needed with other sectors if rivers in Wales are to improve.