English water system singled out for criticism by UN special rapporteur

Outflow at a sewage treatment works in Berkshire. Arrojo-Agudo said problems with England’s privatised model were compounded by a lack of transparency. Photograph: Maureen McLean/Rex/Shutterstock

The privatised English water system has been singled out for criticism by the UN special rapporteur on the human right to clean water.

Prof Pedro Arrojo-Agudo said water systems should be managed as a publicly owned service, rather than run by private companies set up to benefit shareholders.