Water companies in England and Wales will face more rigorous oversight, including unannounced inspections and regular MOT-style checks, as part of a government overhaul of the water industry. The government described the changes as the most significant since privatization, aiming to address public concerns about pollution incidents, leaks, and water outages.

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds stated that the new measures would leave "nowhere to hide" for underperforming water companies. Reynolds told the BBC that the existing system, where water companies essentially self-regulated, had failed. "This has been a whole system failure," she said, citing failures of regulation, regulators, and the water companies themselves.

The Water White Paper outlines plans to establish company-specific teams responsible for monitoring, supervising, and supporting individual firms, addressing their unique challenges. This approach contrasts with the previous "desk based, one size fits all" method. In addition to the inspections, the overhaul includes compulsory water efficiency labels on appliances.

The changes come amid growing public dissatisfaction with the performance of water companies. Increasing numbers of pollution incidents, leaks, and water outages have affected thousands of customers in recent years, prompting calls for greater accountability and stricter regulation.

The government's intervention reflects a broader trend of increased scrutiny of essential services and infrastructure. The new regulatory framework aims to ensure that water companies prioritize environmental protection, infrastructure maintenance, and customer service. The specific details of the MOT-style checks and the composition of the company-specific teams are expected to be finalized in the coming months.