Water companies should be banned from paying dividends to their shareholders when they report that they're discharging untreated sewage, either raw or diluted, into the environment during normal rainfall as defined by the World Meteorological Office.

The government has cracked down on bonuses for holders of senior roles at water companies, but we feel they haven't addressed the incentive for shareholders to elect board members who prioritise paying them dividends rather than putting that money into replacing inadequate infrastructure. We believe companies that discharge sewage into the environment during normal weather conditions should not be allowed to pay dividends to their shareholders.