COMPENSATION for water customers left high and dry by profiteering companies will be doubled under new government proposals.

The proposals come after incidents in which tens of thousands of customers have been left without supplies thanks to burst mains and other incidents, leaving them cut off and reliant on bottled water, sometimes for days.

In early May, 32,000 customers in East Sussex were without water for five days due to a Southern Water mains burst, with Hastings among the communities affected.

Later the same month, South West Water told customers to boil their water after supplies were contaminated with a health-threatening parasite contained in agricultural waste.

Last November, 13,500 Thames Water customers in Surrey were left without tap water due to a problem at a treatment works following a storm.

Under a “guaranteed stands scheme,” current compensation for an interruption in water supplies is £20 for the first 24 hours and £10 for each subsequent 24 hours. The government proposal to double the payments is subject to an eight-week consultation.

Compensation for households affected by burst sewage pipes will also double, from £1,000 to £2,000.

However, the government has said that the payments will not be retrospective.

The proposals were announced by Environment Secretary Steve Reed, who said: “After years of failure, households and businesses have been let down by water companies time and time again.”

The independent Consumer Council for Water welcomed the proposals.

Spokeswoman Jenny Suggate said: “Given that there has been little change to the standards since they were first introduced, an overhaul is long overdue and we know it is a pressing priority for household and business customers.”