A landmark report published today by former Bank of England deputy governor Sir Jon Cunliffe has proposed imposing financial responsibility on manufacturers of wet wipes to address their significant role in polluting England’s waterways.
Sir Cunliffe’s review—a wide-ranging examination of the water sector—strongly recommends adopting the “polluter pays” principle. That means companies making products like wet wipes, notorious for clogging sewage systems and releasing microplastics, should foot the cleanup bill rather than passing costs onto consumers via higher water bills.
The report also acknowledges that while sewage remains the primary pollutant, emerging hazards like microplastics and PFAS “forever chemicals” significantly threaten both aquatic ecosystems and public health. Cunliffe advocates for new regulations requiring producers of these pollutants to finance advanced treatment technologies, such as the EU-standard quaternary treatment, to remove them from wastewater effectively.
In addition to reshaping industry accountability, the report calls for regulatory reform across the sector. It recommends dismantling Ofwat, England’s existing water regulator, and replacing it with a more powerful oversight body. The review criticizes current self-reporting practices by water companies, which environmental groups argue understate the true extent of sewage dumping, and calls for mandatory automatic disclosure of sewage discharge incidents.
Campaigners broadly welcomed these recommendations, especially the move toward producer responsibility, though many criticized the omission of more radical change—such as public ownership or conversion of water companies to non-profit status. Government instructions barred Cunliffe from evaluating options like nationalization, limiting the scope of reform considered in the review.
Environmental groups such as Water UK have voiced their support for initiatives to hold manufacturers accountable. They argue that chemical producers and wet wipe companies should underwrite the cost of necessary sewage treatment upgrades, thereby reducing the burden on bill-paying households.
Water companies themselves have called for more decisive measures. For instance, Southern Water’s wastewater MD, John Penicud, has pointed out that wet wipes, along with fats and oils, are the leading causes of sewer blockages and pollution incidents. These blockages often result in sewage spills directly into rivers and estuaries.
This report arrives amid growing evidence of escalating water pollution. In 2024, serious pollution incidents from English water companies jumped 60% to 75 cases, with Thames Water accounting for nearly half. Overall pollution events increased by 29%, reaching nearly 2,800 incidents—raising alarm among environmental advocates about regulatory failures and chronic underinvestment.
Legal measures to ban plastic-containing wet wipes are already underway. In April 2024, the government announced legislation banning the supply and sale of such products across the UK, citing overwhelming public support and the clear link between plastic wipes and sewage blockages, microplastic pollution, and degraded waterways. Draft regulations were published in July 2025, with stakeholders invited to comment by the end of the month.
Critics, however, warn that banning plastic-only wipes doesn’t fully address the problem. Alternative wipes misleadingly marketed as “biodegradable” or “flushable” often still cause sewer blockages and environmental harm. Experts emphasize the need for stricter design standards, clearer labelling encouraging disposal in bins rather than toilets, and accelerated transition timelines—ideally six months instead of the proposed 18 months—to achieve meaningful reduction in river waste.
Moreover, charities like Thames21 have tracked alarming accumulations of flushed wipes along riverbanks, estimating that billions are placed down toilets each year. These wipes—often plastic-based—bind together into dense masses that form “wet‑wipe islands” altering river flow, harming wildlife, and compromising water quality. The continued release of untreated sewage has compounded these challenges, with incidents remaining at near-record levels despite official pledges—underscoring the urgent need for effective enforcement and systemic reform.
Sir Cunliffe’s report represents a pivotal moment in the UK’s approach to water pollution. By proposing that producers bear the cost of cleaning the pollutants they create, the review offers a tangible shift toward accountability and prevention. Yet much hinges on how—or whether—the government implements these reforms, strengthens regulation, and encourages behavioural change to ensure cleaner rivers for the future.
