Water UK – Public Polling

Survey of the British public about their views and attitudes towards the UK Water industry

Four in five GB adults (82%) say that thinking generally, they trust their water company.
Water companies are trusted more than newspapers (80% trust water companies more), energy companies (78%) and the government (78%), but are less trusted than the NHS (75% trust the NHS more).
Around half (49%) of GB adults say that they support the nationalisation of water and sewerage services in England, while a third (33%) oppose this idea.
Support for nationalisation of water and sewerage services is level with that for energy (49%), but lower than support for nationalisation of National Rail (54%) and mail and postal services (55%).
When told that the Labour Party’s proposal for nationalising the water industry would reduce the value of nearly 6 million people’s pensions which are invested in water companies, including both private and public sector workers’ pensions, just 27% of GB adults say that they would support the nationalisation of water and sewerage services in England if this was the case. In this scenario, half (53%) say they would oppose the nationalisation of water and sewerage services.

Date Published: 22/10/2019

Categories: GB | Infrastructure | Public and communities

Client: Water UK

Methodology

Savanta ComRes interviewed 2,057 GB adults aged 18+ online between 11th and 12th September 2019. Data were weighted to be nationally representative of all GB adults by age, gender, region and social grade. Savanta ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. Savanta ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.