Assessing the impact of the Independent Water Commission’s final report Date: 28/07/25 | In: Articles By Dave Walker, Global Future Trends Director On 21st July, Sir John Cunliffe, Chair of the Independent Water Commission, issued his 456-page report following almost nine months of in-depth research, engagement, analysis and a public Call for Evidence that elicited over 50,000 responses. His report sets out 88 recommendations to the UK and Welsh governments to transform the sector. These include how the system is regulated, how water companies are governed and how critical water infrastructure is kept resilient. Urgently seeking a single, unified regulator In his foreword, Sir John underlines the need for a reset of the water industry. This was welcomed nationally as it is something that we here at Detectronic, and many others, have discussed for several years. That aside, my initial takeaway is that the report confirms what many of us have long suspected: the urgent need for a single, unified regulator. A proposal to merge Ofwat, the Drinking Water Inspectorate, the Environment Agency, and Natural England isn’t new—it was floated a few years back—but with the weight of public opinion now firmly behind the need for change, it feels far more likely to gain traction this time. Investment required + trust rebuilding = imperative The report also reinforces two clear imperatives: the scale of financial investment required across the sector, and the pressing need to rebuild public trust, not just in the water companies, but in government, politicians and regulators alike. However, the key recommendation for Detectronic is Recommendation 26: “The UK Government should review the approach to Continuous Water Quality Monitoring (CWQM). This review should evaluate the effectiveness and value for money of these monitors, with a view to enhancing cost-efficiency through the adoption of technological advancements.” Recommendation 26: let’s slow things down This is exactly what I, along with several of my industry peers and Clive Betts MP, requested during a breakfast briefing at Portcullis House on 26th February 2025, two days after the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 was given Royal Assent i.e. a slow-down of the delivery of Section 82 and a move to EDM Section 81. Ensuring the efficacy and value for money of water monitoring technology is vital. As I have previously stated, technology is available but, at present, it is subject to both high delivery and maintenance costs. And we all know that many of our water companies are already struggling due to lack of investment and budget deficits. So, the fact that the Commission feels that there is a case to review the efficiency and funding allocation of the CWQM programme for future Price Review cycles, given that it is far more expensive than the EA’s budget to monitor water quality, will provide much-needed time to properly address the financial elements that success in this area demands. Integrating technologies and working collaboratively Recommendation 26 also underscores the importance of integrating advanced technologies such as AI and machine learning to enhance the monitoring of broader pollution sources, including DNA and source pollution. These areas are currently being explored through Operation Saving NEMO—a joint research programme funded by Detectronic and Innovate UK. This initiative aims to combine specialist expertise and cutting-edge technology to meet the requirements of Section 82, while delivering significantly lower operational costs compared to existing solutions. It also emphasises the need to fully explore opportunities for data integration through collaboration among relevant organisations, an approach we have consistently advocated for in recent years. Moving forward, together We mustn’t lose momentum. It’s vital that we keep moving forward, together, and supporting the excellent work that has already been done over the last few months. The day after Sir John’s report was released, I met with Toby Perkins MP, Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, to discuss the reports’ contents. He was very open during our informal conversation and is fully supportive of efforts to restore public trust by holding both water companies and the regulator accountable. So, please watch this space for progress updates.
