ON Saturday, August 8, South West Water imposed a hose-pipe ban. Who could have predicted that the summer would bring pressure on water supplies?

Perhaps the Executives paid millions for their expertise? But no!

Since privatisation (1989) there has been little net increase in storage capacity. To be fair there are plans to build a new reservoir ... in Somerset. Plans; it will not be operational until the 2030s. Meanwhile Devon's population has increased by around 30%. No more water stored, but more people to serve.

And since privatisation South West Water's debt has bloomed from £0 to around £4 billion - very similar to the amount they have paid shareholders. So they owe a lot (lot) more but have not increased water storage capacity.

Their record on polluting our environment is poor. With 407,000 hours duration of 'sewage spills' in 2025, their performance is the worst on this measure by any water company in the country, by some margin.

And our bills continue to rise. (Around 40% in the last two years, after the Government removed their £50 subsidy.)

Insufficient capacity; rising debt; polluting the environment; bills rising - some would say 'it's not a record of success'.

Many would like to see the water companies taken back into public ownership. That looks difficult given the UK's current financial position. But surely it's time to hold the Directors and Managers of these companies to better account?

The governance of water companies needs a significant shake-up with the focus on customers and not on the shareholders. Time for change.

Mark Wooding

Central Devon Liberal Democrats