Political reporter, BBC Wales News<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Wales is to have its own water watchdog, the Welsh and UK governments have announced.<\/p>\n It comes after a review called for the system for regulating water companies to be overhauled and replaced.<\/p>\n Ofwat, the body that does the job for England and Wales now, is to be scrapped<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Welsh government will have to decide if a new organisation will be set up or whether Natural Resources Wales (NRW) will take on the role.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Former Welsh Conservative Senedd leader Andrew RT Davies said more powers was the last thing the “failed” Welsh environmental quango needed.<\/p>\n The review said water remained a sensitive issue in Wales because of the flooding of Tryweryn in the 1960s, and that a Welsh regulator would better reflect the priorities in the country.<\/p>\n Welsh government climate change secretary Huw Irranca-Davies said he intended “to progress the commission’s recommendation for a separate independent economic regulator for Wales”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Independent Water Commission carried out the largest review of the sector since it was privatised, following widespread concerns over pollution, bills and bosses’ pay.<\/p>\n Making 88 recommendations, it called for the system that regulates water companies to be replaced with a body for Wales and a body for England.<\/p>\n The review said Wales’ water system was “distinct and unique”.<\/p>\n “Water holds deep cultural significance in Wales, and it remains a sensitive issue, particularly due to historical events such as the creation of the Treweryn reservoir,” it said.<\/p>\n![\"Getty](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/1414\/live\/9fade0b0-661e-11f0-8dbd-f3d32ebd3327.jpg.webp\")
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