GMB, the water union, has reacted to Ofwat’s announcement today [Thursday] that the average water bill will rise by an average of £86 from April [1]

Gary Carter, GMB National Officer, said:

“The public will rightly be angry about these hikes.

“Putting up water bills and giving water companies large bags of cash won’t stop the leaks and sewage spills.

“The water sector is broken and requires fundamental reform.

“It can’t be business as usual with water companies paying out huge dividends and big bonuses.

“Now that water companies have been given money to turnaround years of decline they are responsible for, they must deliver on their promises.

“This must include producing workforce plans and engaging with trade unions and environmental groups.

“If water companies squander the money and don’t deliver, they must be stripped of their licences and be brought into public ownership. “