Water Environment & Transport

Government must strengthen water regulation, not weaken it

Super-regulator plans could lead to disjointed approach

Date posted: 14 June 2026

Staff tackling river pollution, monitoring water quality and protecting communities from failing water companies face growing uncertainty about the future of their jobs under plans for a ‘super regulator’, says UNISON today (Sunday).

The union says reform of water regulation is vital after years of environmental decline, underinvestment and public frustration with privatised companies pumping raw sewage into the UK’s rivers and seas.

But proposals for a new overarching body – to be introduced as part of the planned Water Reform Bill – could risk weakening environmental protections, UNISON says.

The union says there are fears some existing regulatory functions could be hived off to other bodies outside the scope of the new watchdog.

Environment Agency staff are among those likely to be affected most significantly. They currently coordinate work with council planning teams, monitor water quality, manage flood risks and help protect the environment.

UNISON says these functions are interconnected and work best together. Carving up the agency's responsibilities could create duplication with other watchdogs, increase costs and weaken co-ordination when what's really needed is stronger environmental regulation, the union adds.

Job cuts and the sidelining of specialists needed to hold water firms to account could also occur during the transition, the union warns.

The union's concerns come ahead of the publication of a new UNISON report, Clean Water, to be launched on Wednesday (17 June) highlighting decades of underinvestment, environmental decline and regulatory failure across the water industry in England and Wales.

UNISON head of environment Donna Rowe-Merriman said: “The public is right to expect cleaner rivers, healthier waterways and tougher action against companies that cause massive damage to the environment.

“Change is necessary. But reorganisation is not the same as reform. Moving responsibilities between organisations will not, by itself, improve water quality or strengthen environmental protection. What's needed is a regulator with teeth and staff empowered to hold water firms to account.

“Environment Agency staff provide the expertise that underpins effective regulation. Fragmenting those functions risks creating confusion when better co-ordination is vital. Nobody should lose out as a result of any restructuring. Any new regulator must protect specialist skills, provide workforce stability and ensure staff are treated fairly."

Notes to editors:
– The annual UNISON Water, Environment and Transport Conference is taking place today (Sunday 14 June) at the Brighton Centre, Brighton BN1 2GR. Delegates will debate motions and set policies for the upcoming year.
– Delegates will discuss ownership of the water industry at a fringe event in Syndicate Room 4 of the Conference Centre on Wednesday 17 June. Speakers will include UNISON general secretary Andrea Egan and Clive Lewis MP.
– UNISON is the UK's largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes @unison.co.uk
Dan Ashley M: 07789 518992 E: d.ashley@unison.co.uk

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