After many months of intense public scrutiny over raw sewage discharges, England’s privatized water and wastewater companies have apologized and offered to pump $12 billion in new infrastructure by 2030. But a plan to fund work through increased customer bills has raised questions over where the money actually will go.

“More should have been done to address the issue of spillages sooner, and the public is right to be upset about the current quality of our rivers and beaches," said Ruth Kelly, chair of trade body Water UK. "We have listened and have an unprecedented plan to start to put it right."