This summer, households across England have again been asked to limit water use as reservoirs have fallen, rivers have run low, and drought conditions have spread across large parts of the country.

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This is now England’s third drought in five years.

At the same time, the water industry is embarking on the largest investment programme in its history. Ofwat has provisionally approved a further £3.4 billion in investment by water companies, on top of the major increases in spending and household bills already underway.

Customers are therefore entitled to ask a straightforward question: what will they see in return?

There is no doubt that significant investment is needed. England’s water infrastructure must cope with an ageing asset base, population growth, housing development, environmental pressures and a climate that is placing increasing strain on water resources.

The scale of the response is substantial. Around £104 billion of expenditure is planned across England and Wales between 2025 and 2030.

But expenditure alone is not an outcome.

Customers have heard commitments to improvement before. Bills have increased while many households continue to experience supply interruptions, see visible leaks, and remain concerned about the condition of rivers and waterways. Average household bills rose significantly in 2025/26 and increased again this year.

For customers, the test is therefore not........

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