Water crisis could UK's new PM Burnham's biggest political opportunity

A worsening water crisis in England could become a major political opportunity for new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, as rising bills, leaking infrastructure, sewage pollution and public dissatisfaction with privatised utilities fuel calls for greater public control, Gavin Esler writes in an opinion piece for The National.

England is facing a dry summer, with hosepipe bans introduced in some areas and urgent appeals from water companies and the Environment Agency for people to reduce their consumption. A £75 million ($101 million) “Let’s Save Water” campaign is urging the public to adopt simple measures such as taking shorter showers, turning off taps while brushing their teeth, and running washing machines and dishwashers only with full loads.

However, Esler argues that individual efforts alone cannot resolve the deeper problems facing England’s water sector.

The article points to Thames Water, the country’s largest water company, which supplies around 16 million people but is reportedly burdened with approximately £20 billion in debt. According to Esler, the company’s financial difficulties have intensified public questions about how a private monopoly providing an essential service can accumulate such significant debt, while concerns persist over investment, infrastructure and shareholder returns.

Water privatisation began in Britain in 1989 under Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government, which opposed public ownership of the sector. Water and sewerage systems were subsequently transferred to private, for-profit companies, including firms backed by international investors.

Esler writes that decades later, public dissatisfaction has grown over rising water bills, leaking pipes, pollution in rivers and seas, and the role of private profit in the provision of essential services. Environmental campaigners, whistle-blowers, television documentaries, and organisations such as Surfers Against Sewage have helped bring the issue into the centre of public debate.

Against this backdrop, Burnham’s government is reportedly considering greater public control of utilities, including the water and energy sectors. The possibility of nationalising Thames Water has also emerged as part of wider political discussions, although such a move would be legally and financially complex.

The issue fits with Burnham’s record as mayor of Greater Manchester, where he backed the public control of bus services after identifying transport as a problem that directly affected residents’ daily lives. Esler suggests that water could become a similar nationwide issue because it is a service used and understood by virtually everyone.

England and Wales are already seeking to reduce daily water consumption by 28 litres per person. Average usage currently stands at around 140 litres per person per day.

The article also links the debate to climate change and changing weather patterns. Esler notes that prolonged dry conditions have challenged the traditional image of England as a rainy and environmentally rich country, while concerns over water quality have affected public confidence in some coastal areas.

As Burnham begins his premiership, Esler concludes that water may become one of the most politically powerful issues facing his government. Whether the new administration can resolve the sector’s long-standing financial and infrastructure problems, however, remains a separate question.

By Sabina Mammadli