Environment Secretary Steve Reed: Here’s how record investment will transform our water infrastructure

Environment Secretary Rt Hon Steve Reed OBE MP

We promised to clean up our water sector and we are delivering on that promise. 

The Water (Special Measures) Act is now law, putting water companies under tough special measures. 

The Independent Water Commission is underway and will report back in the summer with recommendations to fix our broken water system.  

And over £100 billion of private sector money is being invested into the water sector between 2025-2030, the largest investment in its history. 

The money will be spent where it matters most: repairing leaks, modernising infrastructure and building new reservoirs.  

This investment in water infrastructure will underpin the building of new homes, create jobs and turbocharge local economies – a cornerstone of the government’s Plan for Change.   

But we must go further and faster.  

Last week, Water Minister Emma Hardy and I toured the country to see how this record investment is making an impact. 

Windermere

We’ve pledged to clean up the iconic Windermere which has been impacted by various sources of pollution, including from sewage. 

The Government is supporting the long-term ambition that ‘only rainwater’ should enter England’s largest lake and will work with a range of local organisations to restore Windermere to its natural beauty. 

River Wye  

Minister Hardy and Welsh Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies announced a new £1 million joint research initiative to tackle water quality issues in the River Wye. 

The research programme will investigate sources of the pollution, study the impacts of changing farming practices and develop new ways to improve water quality. 

Havant Thicket Reservoir

I visited Havant Thicket, where the first reservoir to be built in the South East since the 1970s is under construction. 

It will supply an average of 21 million litres of water a day when finished, with people in the region benefiting from a more reliable and sustainable water supply. 

The project – a partnership between Portsmouth Water and Southern Water – is delivering on the Government’s Plan for Change, which will support the infrastructure Britain needs to boost growth and construct 1.5 million new homes. 

Cambridge and Rede

Cambridge is an area with immense potential but has faced barriers to growth due to inadequate water infrastructure and I met with key stakeholders to discuss the area’s urgent water needs.   

With almost £8 billion of investment unlocked over the next five years, key projects like the proposed Fens Reservoir will support sustainable growth and ensure resilient water supply. 

This will be supported by Anglian Water Services work to install new pipeline and a pumping station at Rede in Suffolk. Part of the Strategic Pipeline network, it will span 300km in total across the East of England and be operational by 2030. 

Record Investment

From AI technology to cut sewage spills in the North East, to water recycling schemes in the South West, our #ThingsCanOnlyGetCleaner Tour has shown the transformative impact that over £100 billion of investment into the water sector will have on our rivers, lakes and seas. 

This investment will develop infrastructure nationwide, unlocking 1.5 million new homes, 150 major projects, and powering industries like gigafactories and data centres.