IN response to Richard Robertson’s comments on Northumbrian Water (HAS, Feb 14).

He will be pleased to know that water companies cannot simply do as they please. They are heavily regulated by Ofwat which looks at all aspects of how water companies are run, how money is spent and how assets are managed and sets charges accordingly.

The fact is, when water companies were nationalised (before 1989, under a Conservative government) networks and treatment were heavily neglected, and the cost to renew them would have been prohibitively expensive.

They were sold off on the proviso that companies had to renew such assets.

If you weren’t paying your water bill to Northumbrian Water, you would be paying increased council rates, and the networks would have remained neglected.

Clean drinking water and sewage collection for less than £1 a day? Pretty good value for money I’d say.

If that’s like paying another mortgage, I wish mine was as cheap as yours.

Joe Miller, Bishop Auckland.