Update from Freddie van Mierlo – Governments Water White Paper

Dear

I’m writing to update you following the Government’s publication of its new Water White Paper originally promised for October 2025 in response to the Cunliffe Report but finally published on Tuesday 20^th January.

The Government describes this as a “once in a generation” overhaul, highlighting new powers for a single water regulator, the appointment of a Chief Engineer, tougher inspections, and an ‘MOT‑style’ approach to checking infrastructure. It also promises:

Despite these commitments, the proposals still fall short of the fundamental reform needed to protect our rivers and communities.

Since being elected, I have worked closely with residents in Berrick Salome, Wheatley, Tiddington, Cuxham, Eye & Dunsden, Kingston Blount, Henley, Thame, and surrounding villages who have faced sewage leaks, groundwater infiltration, failing pumping stations, and foul water flooding caused by poor infrastructure maintenance or surface‑to‑foul water misconnections in new developments. My meetings with the many environmental groups across the constituency has shown me the care our rivers need, from the quality of the water to the plants and wildlife that rely on it.  I have raised these issues directly with Thames Water, the Environment Agency and Defra, spoken in Parliament many times, most recently at the Future of Thames Water Westminster Hall Debate, and met with the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology to discuss the limitations of the current Water Framework Directive and the need for stronger monitoring and regulation.

My view is clear: people in Henley and Thame are fed up with empty promises while the Thame, the Thames and their tributaries continue to suffer. The Government has pulled its punches. We need a complete overhaul of how our waterways are run, including mutual ownership, stronger environmental protections, and full transparency on sewage volumes. Without reliable data, we cannot end the sewage scandal or hold water companies properly to account.

The White Paper leaves the privatised model intact. It does not require an end to sewage dumping, does not mandate full disclosure of pollution, and does not change who water companies ultimately answer to. Without structural reform, communities like ours will continue to face unacceptable pollution and failing infrastructure.

I will continue pressing the Government and Thames Water for meaningful reform and real transparency. I will also be asking Ministers to set out the true financial impact of these proposals, particularly in light of the powers they have chosen not to use and the limitations they have chosen not to address.

The Government’s commitment to smart metering also raises practical concerns. Many rural properties such as those in our area cannot be metered because of shared or private supply pipes, deeply buried connections, non‑standard plumbing, multiple buildings on one supply, or inaccessible or unsafe meter locations. These real‑world constraints must be acknowledged, and I will be challenging Ministers on how their plans account for them.

At the same time, I continue to receive large volumes of correspondence from constituents already on meters facing steep bill increases or serious billing errors,  including an elderly resident billed for 310,000 litres of water, and another charged over £13,000 for two months’ usage. These cases highlight the urgent need for accuracy, accountability, and proper consumer protection.

It’s striking how the same £104 billion for these reforms is being framed so differently: ministers present it as a wave of private investment, while the press reports make it clear that the money is effectively coming from higher customer bills. In practice, it feels less like bold investment and more like consumers being asked to rescue water companies from years of under‑funding and their own mismanagement.

I will continue to press the Government directly on how these reforms will address such failures, what safeguards will be put in place, and who will ultimately bear the financial burden of the changes ahead.

Yours sincerely,

Freddie

Freddie van Mierlo MP
Member of Parliament for Henley & Thame

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