Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what oversight regulators undertake to ensure that reductions in mains water pressure are not used as an alternative to infrastructure investment by water companies.

Ofwat monitors water pressure as part of statutory service standards and can take enforcement action if companies fail to maintain adequate levels. Companies must report pressure performance annually, and Ofwat scrutinises their investment plans through the price review process to ensure they are not avoiding necessary infrastructure upgrades. The Drinking Water Inspectorate also oversees supply issues that could affect consumer protection. Regulators therefore have clear mechanisms to prevent companies using pressure reductions as an alternative to proper investment.