Lib Dems pledge water firm reform to tackle sewage

Penalties from water companies will be re-invested into a new Water Restoration Fund which aims to improve water quality, the government said.

As part of this, it said polluters could face unlimited fines in the future.

Sir Ed Davey’s fondness for an election stunt saw him take to a paddleboard on Lake Windermere, to highlight a recent untreated sewage incident.

The Lib Dem leader quickly fell off the board. After drying himself off, Sir Ed said “there is a serious message” behind his dip in the water.

He told BBC News: “Lakes like lake Windemere are so precious our environment and our wonderful country, so critical to so many people.

“We need to make sure that the water companies are properly held to account.”

The Lib Dems said they would reform water companies into “Public Benefit Companies” and the experts would be expected to hold community meetings to report back on action being taken, if they gain power at the general election.

The scheme is the latest in a series of Lib Dem policies pledging to improve UK waterways.

In the run-up to the general election, the Lib Dems unveiled plans to abolish and replace the water industry regulator Ofwat, and ban water CEO bonuses to address the sewage crisis.

Labour have promised to empower Ofwat to bring criminal charges against water bosses for repeated offenses, as well as blocking bonuses.