It includes plans to map out firms’ “asset health” and intervene when infrastructure problems – such as leaks or treatment plant failures – are identified.
Campaigners welcomed the proposals, but raised concerns that the Government is not going far enough on issues including the ownership structure of firms and agricultural pollution.
The Government announced last summer that the regulator, Ofwat, would be scrapped and replaced with a new body that merges together the powers of Ofwat, the Environment Agency, Natural England and the Drinking Water Inspectorate.
The White Paper sets out what the new regulator might look like, but the proposals will still be consulted on before coming into force.
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[Water companies](https://inews.co.uk/topic/water-company?srsltid=AfmBOoqrGu3wiH2anr_twrIu9KrdvJai9mAljFpjVWA1rx0bCtZfYRZa&ico=in-line_link) will be forced to undergo “MOTs” to proactively prevent sewage spills and [water shortages](https://inews.co.uk/topic/water-shortage?srsltid=AfmBOooNLYM8MPODdtRekvDjD6-clh_R4pXCTVlj0aTNJ-3ilCt3R6ui&ico=in-line_link) under a new beefed up regulator.
The Government has set out plans to overhaul how [water companies are monitored](https://inews.co.uk/news/water-bosses-face-fined-leaks-sewage-spills-4176197?ico=in-line_link) as part of a White Paper published on Tuesday.
It includes plans to map out firms’ “asset health” and intervene when infrastructure problems – such as leaks or treatment plant failures – are identified.
The plans could prevent major sewage pollution incidents or water shortages like those experienced in Kent and [Sussex last week](https://inews.co.uk/news/wash-bucket-inside-sussex-town-without-water-4166139?ico=in-line_link), according to ministers.
Campaigners welcomed the proposals, but raised concerns that the Government is not going far enough on issues including the ownership structure of firms and agricultural pollution.
The White Paper is the latest stage of Labour’s [shake-up of the water sector](https://inews.co.uk/news/watchdog-scrapped-labour-plans-sewage-3338519?ico=in-line_link) and is being published in response to a review led by former deputy director of the Bank of England, Sir Jon Cunliffe.
It comes after *The i Paper’s* [Save Britain’s River](https://inews.co.uk/topic/save-britains-rivers?ico=in-line_link) campaign called for a major overhaul of the way water companies are regulated.
The Government announced last summer that the regulator, Ofwat, would be scrapped and replaced with a new body that merges together the powers of Ofwat, the Environment Agency, Natural England and the Drinking Water Inspectorate.
The White Paper sets out what the new regulator might look like, but the proposals will still be consulted on before coming into force.