Water firms to lose public funds unless they pledge to stop UK sewage spills

Government accepts Liberal Democrat amendment to UK infrastructure bank bill

Taxpayer money may no longer be invested in water companies that fail to produce adequate plans to stop sewage discharges, after the government accepted a Liberal Democrat amendment.

The change to the UK infrastructure bank bill means that once it becomes law, tax receipts will only be able to fund water companies if they produce a costed and timed plan for ending sewage spills into waterways.