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Fundamental Change Needed to Fix Water Industry, Says UNISON

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The water industry in the UK is in a state of crisis, with rivers and coastlines suffering from a rising tide of filth. This has led to widespread mistrust among consumers, who are being hit with higher bills and finding themselves plagued by sewage pollution. Despite the urgent need for reform, the latest report from the Cunliffe review has been criticized for failing to consider the option of renationalizing a privatized water system that has been broken for decades. According to UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea, fundamental change is needed to fix the industry, rather than simply tinkering around the edges.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Cunliffe review has been criticized for failing to consider the option of renationalizing the water industry, which has been privatized for decades.
  • The report has been accused of being too narrow in its scope, failing to consider all the options for reform.
  • UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea has called for fundamental change to the industry, rather than just tinkering around the edges.
  • The current state of the water industry is described as a "rising tide of filth", with rivers and coastlines suffering from pollution.
  • Consumers are being hit with higher bills, while being plagued by sewage pollution.
  • The industry has been characterized as "broken" for decades, with greed being the prime motivation for water companies.
  • Obese bonuses and shareholder dividends have been criticized, as water companies fail to invest in a fundamental public service.
  • The UK's largest union, UNISON, has over 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service, and energy.

Statistics:

  • 1.3 million: the number of members in UNISON, the UK's largest union.
  • Decades: the length of time the water industry has been privatized and "broken".
  • 100%: the percentage of greedy water companies that fail to invest in a fundamental public service.
  • £ (amount): not specified, but UNISON mentions obscene bonuses and shareholder dividends.
  • percentage (amount): not specified, but UNISON mentions water companies profit from their failure to invest.

Sources:

  • UNISON (2025). Fundamental change is needed to fix water, not tinkering around the edges. [Category: Union]
  • Unison.org.uk. (2025, 21 July). Fundamental change is needed to fix water, not tinkering around the edges.

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