There has been a great deal of coverage about the state of the UK’s water industry, with campaign groups like Surfers Against Sewage drawing attention to the volume of raw sewage being dumped into the UK’s seas, rivers and lakes.
One of the major complaints among those who have been campaigning for cleaner waterways for years is that privatised water companies make significant profits, which are often funnelled to shareholders rather than put back into improving infrastructure.
However, with new prime minister Andy Burnham in Number 10, it seems that there could be some changes on the horizon for the country’s water sector.
In his speech at the Labour Party Conference at the end of September, Burnham announced plans to remove the historic restriction on government share ownership in private water and sewage companies in England.
Currently, government share ownership in such entities is restricted to less than three per cent.
While Burnham has yet to provide full details, he also shared that he plans to introduce stronger public control for utilities like water companies as part of a ten-year plan for Britain.
What could reform of the UK’s water industry look like?
In July 2025, the Independent Water Commission published its final report into the state of the UK’s water industry, looking at both sewage services and the supply of clean water to homes and businesses.
This report contained 88 recommendations, spanning a range of topics. These include the water environment, investment in the country’s water industry and accountability for issues like pollution.
Among the headline recommendations is that the English and Welsh governments should create a national water strategy that takes an “integrated approach” to ensure it brings water supply and resources, drainage, wastewater, public health and recreation needs together.
In addition, the strategy should include flood risk and the impact on the wider environment.
While there has been much talk in the press about renationalisation of water companies, this is not an option that the government is pursuing at this time.
However, it is likely that water companies will come under greater scrutiny as the central government plans to give strategic authorities and mayors around the country greater powers to hold water companies to account and ensure their priorities align with public needs.
Are there already regulations in place governing wastewater?
There are a range of regulations in place surrounding wastewater in the UK and how it is treated.
The Environment Act 2021 set out a series of regulations for the sector, including long-term targets designed to tackle nutrient pollution from wastewater and agriculture. That said, the Independent Water Commission report acknowledged they do not always have the desired effect.
As a result, it recommended a review of the legislative frameworks involved to ensure that the legislation governing the wastewater and broader water industry is “in line with current ambition and desired outcome” for the government.
However, according to the report, the areas where tighter regulation would be beneficial include sewage pollution and sludge spreading on farmland to reduce the spread of PFAs, pharmaceuticals and toxic metals.
All of these areas have an impact on public health, which is why they are a particular focus in the report.
How is wastewater treated in the UK?
Wastewater treatment in the UK currently involves using large settlement tanks at wastewater treatment plants where large objects and human waste are separated from water. This settles at the bottom of the tank in a sludge, which is then pumped away to be treated.
Much of this sludge is currently used as fertiliser on farmland. But given that there could be changes coming in terms of sludge spreading on farms, wastewater companies may be looking for alternative ways to dispose of this sludge.
A less-common use for it at present is in energy production, so it is possible that this could ramp up if the government decides to restrict sludge spreading on agricultural land.
Here at Motherwell Tank Protection, we’ve adapted the vacuum relief valves we initially developed for the oil and gas industry to serve the wastewater sector.
Our wastewater valves are made with this industry in mind and are made from stainless steel, carbon steel and aluminium, ensuring they are durable and can withstand the demands of a wastewater treatment plant.
We also manufacture products for bioenergy and biogas production, which means we have a broad range of experience that could prove valuable if you are seeking alternative uses for the sludge from a wastewater plant beyond using it as fertiliser.
