Dyma erthygl Sioned Williams AS ar gyfer y Glamorgan Gazette, ar yr angen am berchnogaeth gyhoeddus lawn o ddŵr
Cyhoeddwyd yr erthygl hon ddydd Iau 10 Ebrill yn y Glamorgan Gazette (yn Saesneg).
The privatisation of water is a failed model
There should be no profit in water when it comes to the people in Wales using the water from Wales.
This shouldn’t be a controversial statement, and in Wales, we should be able to take comfort in the fact our water company – Dŵr Cymru – is a not-for-profit organisation.
But below the surface, all it not as it seems.
You probably noticed a rise in your water bill, which came into effect April 1st. Sadly, this was no April Fools, with Dŵr Cymru confirming that the average bill was rising 27%. That means for unmetered customers, they could see a rise from £693 to £913.
While the increase in bills is because of the need to improve services, the timing was awful because it came after the news that the boss of Dŵr Cymru was paid £892,000 in total during 2021. While the not-for-profit model means that Dŵr Cymru doesn’t have shareholders receiving massive dividends, when it’s paying one person nearly £900k in one year, it’s hard to argue the difference to the average person on the street.
The issue about water in Wales serves as a really important reminder for what’s wrong with our economy.
Whether it’s water, rail or energy production, the control over these vital services are not fully in our hands.
Because, while Dŵr Cymru doesn’t have shareholders, it still operates within a system where water is privatised – a failed model that results in higher bills for the people in Wales and a terrible deterioration in the quality of our water supply.
Wales, a country rich in water, and where water falls regularly from the sky – all for free – still has a hefty price tag on its water and the result is an estimated 8% of households in Wales are in water poverty.
Plaid Cymru believes that full control of water should be put into public ownership, so that we can create a fair system for everyone who calls Wales their home.
Meanwhile if you are struggling, help is available – contact www.dwrcymru.com or by calling 0800 052 0145.