UK Lawmakers Take a Swing at Irresponsible Water Firm Bosses

UK lawmakers called for more responsible ownership of the country’s water sector, after decades during which critical infrastructure was run for the benefit of private equity investors.

Privatization of the industry more than 30 years ago has led to more “irresponsible leadership, with investors looking to maximize profit from what they see as financial assets, in what should be a ‘low risk, low reward’ industry,” according to the UK Parliament’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee. It urged the Independent Water Commission — which is due to propose industry reforms later this summer — to consider all ownership models, including not-for-profit enterprises.