Water Survey

As we’re all too aware, south west residents pay higher water bills than anywhere else in the country. This is despite having some of the lowest incomes in England.

The last Government commissioned a report on water bills and how inequalities across the UK could be corrected.  The findings and recommendations of the Walker Report, as the study is known, are now being reviewed by the Water Regulator (OFWAT).

While I welcome OFWAT’s ongoing review, I’d also like to know what you as a south west resident think about the recommendations. 

As you may know, I’ve consistently campaigned for lower bills in the south west.  In the last session of Parliament, I along with other south west Liberal Democrat MPs presented the Water Tariffs Bill.  In it I argued for the equalisation of water bills across the country at the current average rate. This remedy is one of the recommendations made in the Walker Report.

I’d also want to see that “water poverty” is recognised in the same way as “fuel poverty” whereby a household is said to be fuel poor if it spends more than 10% of its income after tax on fuel.  It seems to me outrageous that this most fundamental resource for human survival is not already recognised in such a way.

In any case, I would greatly appreciate it if you could spare a few minutes to complete the survey below.  I believe OFWAT should be doing more to get your feedback on what affects your household budget.  I intend to present the findings of this survey to them to make their review a more inclusive process.

Click here to take the online survey (opens in new window)