Time for water companies to cough up says Assembly Member

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 15th Jul 2008

There is a possibility that householders may have to pay up to £30 extra a year for their water as a consequence of the Environment Agency's instruction to water companies to take less water from our rivers and other sources because of the damage caused to wildlife and plants, the Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member, Peter Black has said..

Mr. Black has called on the water companies to shoulder their fair share of the cost of protecting sensitive river and wetland habitats. He was speaking in the light of the Consumer Council for Water's comments that the change in policy could add £30 a year to household bills.

Mr. Black said:

"The industry reckons that it will cost them £450m to find new supplies of water or better ways of using the water we have. Why should the poor old customer have to pay all of that?

"As is the way with many of the private monopolies created by the Tories, the water industry has a tendency to expect the customer to stump up for everything while they build up their profits.

"Rather than raiding the wallets and purses of hard-pressed families at a time when we are all facing increased bills for fuel, food, and power, the water industry should agree to make smaller profits, and shoulder at least half the £450m themselves."