Clive Lewis introduced a new bill to stop water companies polluting waterways and rising prices 

Campaigner and former singer Fergal Sharkey, Clive Lewis and UEA professors met to discuss the problems privatisation has had on water. 

Clive Lewis, MP for Norwich South, said: “I can taste a difference in my water, there’s pollution in it and our bills are going up” 

The privatisation of water companies like Anglian Water in 1990 means water has become a product that can be used to reap maximum profits. 

Mr Lewis goes on to say, “believe it or not you do not have a right to water.” 

If his bill is accepted, he aims to make water a human right and make water companies responsible for their actions under the slogan ‘water belongs to all of us.’ 

According to Water UK, due to the privatisation and many water companies being in debt, water prices are set to rise exponentially. 

Mr Sharkey called this “political failure” that has caused “pain, sorrow and anger”. 

His main concern is that water companies are not being called out for “dumping sewage” while simultaneously raising prices. 

Ofwat is the water authority whose purpose is to regulate water companies, but Professor Oliver Springate-Basinski said they are “in breach of contract with the citizens”. 

Mr Sharkey described Ofwat as “blinked, blinded and obsessed. 

“In an ideal world the Ofwat board should resign first thing tomorrow morning if they know anything of chivalry.” 

John, an environment enthusiast from Great Yarmouth, shared his anger as it is no longer safe to swim in the sea: “You have to take antibiotics for two weeks just to go diving in Yarmouth.” 

Peter, a swimmer in Norwich, said he used to swim by Cow Tower to keep active, but it is now no longer safe. 

In response, Mr Sharkey said: “The truth is the companies had the money but didn’t spend it on the sewage system, they spent it on themselves. 

“They are committing ecocide right now” 

Professor Springate-Basinski called the water companies to have caused “systematic fraud”. 

According to Gov.UK “only 14% of rivers and lakes in England achieved ‘good ecological status’”. 

Mr Sharkey called this a “travesty.” 

Not only was he angry about pollution making it unsafe to swim, but there are “ancient rivers in Norfolk being destroyed.”  

Another problem Mr Lewis shared concerns for was the lack of places for people to live in the future. 

“Whitingham sewage works at capacity” leaving little room for more houses. 

He said, “to save water, grey water needs to be flushed not clean.” 

Otherwise, he said “there will be terrible shortages of water. 

“We are taking water for granted.” 

Mr Sharkey said these companies have failed customers and the environment.  

He urged people to “demand leadership and urgency and flood the streets with rage, anger and disappointment.” 

Mr Lewis ended the debated that this bill “won’t fix everything but it’s a start”.