GREEDY water regulator bosses paid themselves millions in salaries while failing to get a grip on the sewage crisis. 

Ofwat’s senior management team netted more than £2 million in pay last year.

Reuters

Britain’s Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed has blasted water regulator bosses over the sewage crisis[/caption]

Chief exec David Black received a total remuneration package of £250,000 to £255,000 including pension. 

The failing regulator also handed out over £6 million to external consultants in two years, according to official contracts.

It comes as Ofwat is set to be abolished under reforms announced on Monday.

The ineffective watchdog has been criticized for failing to prevent water companies from releasing sewage into rivers while they enrich their shareholders.

Now it can be revealed the regulator has been spaffing taxpayer cash on companies for communication advice and training staff for grillings by MPs.

A £15,000 contract was given to Moxy Communications for advice including “training for Select Committees”.

This is despite Ofwat having around 16 people on their comms team with salaries for their senior director advertised at around £105,000.

Recently, advisors Strand Partners won a £100,000 seven-month contract to “reduce the pressure on Ofwat and free up resource”. 

A separate £30,000 contract was spent on an online tool to schedule content to go live on Ofwat social media channels.

And another £80,000 went on a “social listening tool” to “gain valuable insights” from social and digital media.

Senior Lib Dem MP Tim Farron stated: “It is outrageous that Ofwat executives dare to reward themselves with millions despite their failure, and this unnecessary spending is an affront to every bill payer facing rising charges, while the condition of our waterways deteriorates.

“This isn’t just incompetence; it’s a betrayal of public trust and we need a radical overhaul.

“It’s time to dismantle Ofwat. We need a strong, new regulator that can finally compel these companies to improve their practices and put an end to the sewage fiasco for good.”

Tory shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins said: “As families watch bills rise by the month, Ofwat bosses are busy signing off million-pound consultancy contracts and paying themselves bumper salaries.

“Spending £80,000 to listen to tweets and £15,000 on Select Committee coaching is a slap in the face to every household footing the bill.”

For the first time the Government will promise to cut sewage pollution with a clear deadline.

Environment Secretary Steve Reed has announced that pollution from water companies will be cut in half by the end of the decade.

And a record £104 billion is being invested to upgrade crumbling pipes and build new sewage treatment works.

He said: “One of the largest infrastructure projects in England’s history will clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good.”

He is expected to announce a consultation on creating a new regulator to coincide with the results of a major review into the water industry directed by former Bank of England deputy governor Sir Jon Cunliffe.

An Ofwat spokesperson said Mr Black’s salary takes account of the “scale, complexity and challenges of the role”.

They added: “Decisions on pay and bonuses for the Senior Leadership Team are made by the Board’s People Committee in line with guidance from the Cabinet Office and the Senior Salaries Review Body.

The process and the salary increase applied was in accordance with the Government pay guidance for Senior Civil Servants.”

Rex

Chief Executive of OFWAT is raking in a fat cat salary despite the failure to grip the sewage crisis[/caption]