Image description: A black tap with running water pouring into a sink. Image by Karolina Grabowska from Pixabay

Ofwat has launched a consultation on proposals to ensure water companies involve consumers and listen to their views in key decisions that have a material impact on them.

This follows Ofwat receiving new powers from government to issue rules about remuneration and governance under the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025.

According to joint research conducted with the Consumer Council for Water (CCW), consumers see the public having a role to in effecting change in the water sector and want to hold companies accountable where they perform poorly and have the greatest direct impact on the public or environment.

The consumer involvement rule covers three areas:

• Ensuring that companies take decisions with an informed understanding of consumers’ views and preferences.
• Creating decision-making arrangements within companies that involve consumers.
• Improving companies’ understanding of the impact of past decisions on consumers.

Ofwat is seeking views on the proposed rule and guidance and is asking stakeholders to make the regulator aware of any considerations or challenges with implementation that they foresee. The consultation is running from 14 August 2025 until 1 October 2025.