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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with (1) Ofwat, and (2) the Environment Agency, in 2022 about (a) leakages of potable water, (b) sewage discharge into rivers and seas, (c) shareholder dividends, (d) executive bonuses, and (e) gearing of balance sheets, by water companies; and what steps they took, if any, as a result of those discussions.

Officials regularly discuss with Ofwat and the Environment Agency a number of issues across the water sectors covering all of the subjects in your questions and more. As a result a number of steps have been taking, for example, launching the Storm Overflow Plan [ Storm overflows discharge reduction plan - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)], the consultation on introducing mandatory water efficiency labels [ UK mandatory water efficiency labelling - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)] and the Ofwat's consultation on dividends and company performance [ Consultation on proposed modifications to strengthen the ring-fencing licence conditions of the largest undertakers]. Copies of these documents are attached to this answer.