Committee publication · Correspondence · 7 July 2026
Correspondence from Mark Garth, CEO of Affinity Water, regarding the work of EFRA, dated 1 July 2026
From: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Reforming the water sector
Summary
Mark Garth, newly appointed CEO of Affinity Water, introduces himself to the EFRA Committee chair and proposes dialogue on water sector challenges. Affinity Water serves 3.9 million customers across South East England and manages 10% of the world's rare chalk streams. The company is investing £2.3 billion over 2025–2030 and emphasises the need for better regulatory alignment, integrated planning, and cross-sector collaboration to address England's projected water supply-demand deficit of five billion litres daily by 2050.
Key findings
- Affinity Water serves 3.9 million customers as the UK's largest water-only company and manages 10% of the world's rare chalk streams in environmentally significant landscapes
- The company is delivering a £2.3 billion investment programme over AMP 2025–2030 focused on water quality, leakage reduction, efficiency, environmental restoration, and network resilience
- England faces a growing supply-demand deficit reaching around five billion litres of water per day by 2050, driven by climate change, population growth, and increased economic activity
- Garth identifies need for greater regulatory clarity and more integrated planning frameworks across regulators to deliver resilience and environmental outcomes
- Affinity Water seeks constructive partnership with the Committee and sector partners to align long-term planning, investment, and regulation
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Mark Garth, Alistair Carmichael MP, Affinity Water, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, UK Government
Notable line
“Greater clarity on regulatory expectations, alongside a more integrated approach across planning frameworks and regulators, will be essential to ensuring the system can deliver both resilience and environmental out comes over time.”
Key Quotes
“Affinity Water serves approximately 3.9 million customers across the South East of England and, as the UK's largest water - only company, we have a unique responsibility to provide resilient, high- quality water services while protecting some of the country's most environmentally significant landscapes, including 10% of the world's rare chalk streams.”
“England faces a growing supply demand deficit reaching around five billion litres of water a day by”
“These are complex challenges that no single organisation can solve alone. We are committed to working constructively with partners across the sector and beyond to find practical solutions that support economic growth, protect the environment and strengthen the resilience of our water resources.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗