Independent Water Commission
Independent review of the water industry in England and Wales
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The Independent Water Commission (Welsh: Comisiwn Dŵr Annibynnol) was a British government review of the regulatory system for the water sector in the United Kingdom. It was chaired by Sir Jon Cunliffe.[1]
Date23 October 2024 – 21 July 2025
ChairSir Jon Cunliffe
| Date | 23 October 2024 – 21 July 2025 |
|---|---|
| Chair | Sir Jon Cunliffe |
Establishment
The UK Government and the Welsh Government established the Independent Water Commission in October 2024.[2]
Final report
Contents
The report recommended:
- establishing an obligation to have smart meters[3]
- merging Ofwat, the Drinking Water Inspectorate, water-environment related functions of the Environment Agency and Natural England[4]
- transferring the economic responsibilities of Ofwat in Wales to Natural Resources Wales[4]
- establishing an ombudsman for Water, comparable to the Energy Ombudsman[5]
- the establishment of 8 regional new regional water system planning authorities in England, one for each river basin[6]
- the establishment of a national water system planning authority for Wales[6]
- the publication of a national water strategy by both the UK Government and the Welsh Government[7]
Reception
The recommendations were supported by Deputy First Minister of Wales and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies.[8]