Condition monitoring surveys for water companies
19/03/2026
The UK government has published a long-awaited white paper setting out proposed reforms for the regulation of the water industry.
The water white paper, titled: ‘A new vision for water’, has been published by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA). It sets out powers for a new industry regulator, with the aim of tougher oversight and stronger accountability for water companies.
For the first time in two decades, a chief engineer will sit inside the new single water regulator.
DEFRA has said that this will “bring back the hands-on checks of water infrastructure and end the days of water firms marking their own homework, resulting in crumbling pipes and unreliable services.”
The new regulator will introduce an ‘MOT’ approach for water company infrastructure, requiring condition monitoring surveys on pipes, pumps and more. The idea is that this will promote a culture of preventative maintenance rather than crisis management.
Emma Reynolds, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said: “These are once-in-a-generation reforms for our water system: tough oversight, real accountability and no more excuses. Water companies will have nowhere to hide from poor performance, customers will get the service they deserve and investors will see a system built for the future. This builds on the tough action we have already delivered, from record investment to banning unfair bonuses.”
