Today, Ofwat (the Office of Water Services) published its final price review which sets out how the regulator expects companies to improve services for customers and their environmental performance from 2020 until 2025. The announcement gained widespread broadcast coverage including on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme, BBC Breakfast and Good Morning Britain, while there has been online articles in the Financial Times, Daily Telegraph, The Mirror, The Times and City AM.
Media coverage notes that Ofwat’s determinations will see water companies launch a major investment programme to revitalise the sector and improve services for customers whilst increasing commitments to meeting environmental targets. Ofwat has set new levels of service for water company performance including cutting leakage by 16%, identifying and helping an additional two million customers who need extra support, investing over £1 billion to protect communities at risk of flooding, reducing pollution into rivers and streams by almost a third, and preparing for drier weather by providing £450 million to explore new water resources such as reservoirs or moving water from where there is lots to places with less.
Responding to Ofwat’s determinations Emma Howard Boyd, Chair of Environment Agency said:
I welcome Ofwat’s new price determinations which will challenge all water companies to improve their performance and resilience to flooding and drought, while delivering for their customers and the environment.
The climate emergency and a growing population mean that we all have our part to play in protecting our water environment – every drop we save will help sustain and protect our precious rivers, lakes and bathing waters for future generations.
Follow the Environment Agency on Twitter, and sign up for email alerts here.