Reforming the UK Water Industry

26 January 2026

The Government has published its long-awaited Water White Paper. Among a raft of proposals is a plan to establish a single integrated regulator, strengthen enforcement with proactive individualised supervision of water companies, prioritise long‑term investment in resilient infrastructure, and broaden financing frameworks to support major capital projects and attract sustainable private investment. In this briefing, we discuss the key reforms and look at the implications for the water industry and environmental protection in England.

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