‘Less reorganising, more doing’: landmark report alone won’t fix broken water sector

Experts say commission's recommendations will come to nothing unless water firms actually start building vital infrastructure

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• Water review in England and Wales: seven key takeaways

It started with sewage. Few environmental crises evoke such visceral public anger as pumping poo into waterways, but for years, that is exactly what water companies in England and Wales have done in large volumes.

Their failure to build infrastructure, plug leaks and protect nature has infuriated customers who at the same time have struggled with soaring water bills. It has also shocked European neighbours whose publicly owned water companies keep things far cleaner.