Water regulator must not curtail environmental programmes - Doughty

Today's Environmental Audit Committee report, 'Water: the Periodic Review 2004 and the Environmental Programme', criticises Ofwat for trying to cut back water bills at the expense of environmental measures.

Commenting, Sue Doughty MP, Committee member and Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Minister, said:

"We all want cheaper bills, but there is a bottom line that this should not be at the expense of the environment. The new authority replacing Ofwat must not decide what is in the environmental programme. This is the job of the Environment Agency.

"Instead of cutting funding for environmental measures, we should keep bills down by finding ways to reduce the cost of removing pollutants from our water. We need to tackle pollution at source and make the polluter pay."