Picture or MOSL CEO Sarah McMath

At the end of October, the UK and Welsh Governments announced they had appointed an Independent Commission to undertake the largest review of the water sector since it was privatised in 1989.

MOSL CEO, Sarah McMath, sets out her expectations and recommendations for the Independent Commission.

"This marks a momentous step, and opportunity, for the Government to set out its ambitions and expectations on how we make our water sector more robust, more resilience and more trustworthy.

Whilst it can be difficult to separate our public sector services from our politics, it is crucial that we do. Reforming the water sector must be led by the guiding principle of improving the services we provide to customers and protecting our natural environment. The private sector must be investable, but politics and pockets must be secondary to the sector delivering societal good.

I have worked in the water sector for almost 30 years across a wide range of roles - from water quality and sewerage treatment to asset management and strategy and regulation. It is no secret that the industry has fragmented as it has grown under privatisation. As a sector, the regulatory incentives in place have not always resulted in the best outcomes for customers or the environment. However, some of the challenges are driven by the complexity of the industry and the way in which regulation, including rewards and penalties and financial frameworks have been developed over the years. Add to that the increasing threat of climate change, population growth, extreme and recurring weather events and the need for food security and economic growth, the very infrastructure of the sector is under pressure like never before.

I welcome the Independent Commission and its focus on how we tackle the systemic issues in the sector.

  • As Chair of the Water Efficiency Strategy Group, I encourage the Commission to consider the current barriers to the sector delivering water savings and how Defra works with other government departments (energy, housing, technology) to ensure we make informed decisions on long-term and sustainable solutions to restore our natural environment and protect our water resources.
  • As a former director of a large water company, I encourage the Commission to consider the effectiveness of the current regulatory framework in driving nature-based and onsite solutions, as well as the structure of comparative regulation, incentives and rewards.
  • As the CEO of MOSL, I encourage the Commission to ensure that the business water market and its customers are fully considered in water resource planning to support the Government’s economic growth agenda in light of water scarcity challenges.
  • As a water consumer, I encourage the Commission to be transparent in its process to reform the sector and focus on the long-term needs of customers, society and our environment. This requires behavioural change and joined up thinking, including the Government’s industrial strategy which is lacking all and any reference to our future water needs.

I look forward to sharing our ideas and engaging with key stakeholders to support the Commission as it seeks input from across the sector."

If you have any questions or comments on this statement, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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