Price rises and pollution mean raw deal for water customers, Senedd told

WELSH Water customers are getting a raw deal, with bills increasing while "disgraceful" pollution continues and executives pocket "scandalous" payments, the Senedd has heard.

- CHRIS HAINES

Rhys ab Owen expressed concerns about Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water being issued a £1.3m fine for failing to monitor water quality at 300 different sites and committing 800 offences.

"This is on top of the sewage that was discharged last year, over 118,000 times," he said. "That is a sewage spill every five minutes - the highest... of any UK water company."

Mr ab Owen, who sits as an independent, told the Senedd: "Constituents find it very difficult to believe - it sticks in the back of the throat - that executives are paid eye-watering sums, that there are discussions for them to be paid even higher salaries - and this at the same time that Dŵr Cymru is increasing household bills by 27% this year, an average of £86 per household.

"Costs for householders are increasing yet scrutiny seems to be decreasing due to lack of funding and investment by the Welsh Government."

Huw Irranca-Davies said Welsh Water will invest £6bn between 2025 and 2030, including £1.2bn for environmental improvements and tackle nutrient pollution.

The Deputy First Minister said: "I've been consistently clear - both with the water companies and indeed the regulator, Ofwat - that customers in Wales expect to see real, tangible improvements in services... infrastructure and in environmental outcomes."