Mayors could be given powers to oversee water companies under government plan

Prime Minister Andy Burnham plans to create nine new regional bodies responsible for planning and holding water companies accountable. This initiative stems from recommendations made by Sir John Cunliffe's Independent Water Commission. The regional bodies would have the power to oversee water companies' spending and hold them accountable for bills and sewage discharges. This comes as complaints from households about water companies rose by 84% in a year.