# Mayors to get new powers over water companies in ‘public control’ push

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/mayors-to-get-new-powers-over-water-companies-in-public-control-push/
- Published: 2026-11-05T00:01:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-05T00:34:46+00:00
- Original publisher: City AM (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.cityam.com/mayors-to-get-new-powers-over-water-companies-in-public-control-push/
- Topics: Business, Government, Politics

## Key points

- Mayors are being asked to propose regional water councils.
- Eight councils would oversee local priorities and investment.
- Thames Water serves 16 million customers and has about £20 billion in debt.

## Summary

The government plans to give mayors and local leaders a greater role in overseeing water companies through new regional water councils. The councils are intended to make operators more accountable for problems such as sewage pollution and flooding, and to shape local priorities and investment.

Mayors have two months to submit proposals for how the councils should work. Eight councils are planned, with members including local leaders, farmers, developers and customers; one will cover the Thames region, whose water company serves 16 million people. Thames Water has about £20 billion in debt and has faced more than £120 million in Ofwat fines. Its creditors say it needs at least £10 billion in new private capital, while the government has not specified which leaders will sit on the councils.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.