‘No dividing line’: consultants advising private water companies also work for their regulator, Ofwat

Campaigners call for the whole regulatory system to be replaced after Observer analysis finds watchdog spent more than 25m with consultancies

The water industry regulator has spent 26.7m on business consultants in the past five years, including several companies that have simultaneously worked for private water firms, the Observer can reveal.

The findings prompted environmental campaigner Feargal Sharkey to call for Ofwat to be abolished as fellow campaigners said there appeared to be no dividing line between those who are meant to enforce the law and those who routinely break it".