Water
As with electricity and gas, water services are provided by the private sector and unlike gas and electricity, water companies do not have to compete for domestic customers. In Northern Ireland services remain in the public sector.
To ensure a high standard of service from all of the companies the industry is regulated in three key areas:
- Costs to Consumers
Water has to be collected, treated and then piped to your home. Dirty water then has to be collected, taken away and treated again. The cost of providing this service varies across the UK and depends upon a variety of geographical, economic and historical factors.
Water companies do not have to compete for your custom – in theory they could charge you want they wished. To prevent this, the prices they charge are regulated by government appointed organisations.
- In England and Wales OFWAT ensures that customers receive a high quality service at a fair price.
- In Scotland prices are regulated by the Water Commissioner.
- In Northern Ireland services remain in the public sector so there is no separate regulator.
Costs have been rising recently due to the amount of water used in the UK. An increase in the amount of water used has caused an inevitable rise in prices, not only this however, but also a hose pipe ban in some parts of the country. The general idea is that a ban will force people to make the best use of natural water supplies around them and therefore reduce the amount of water being used. More than 8 million people will be affected by this ban, the cause of which is a lack of rainfall, particularly in the south east. The restrictions on usage of water are slightly ambiguous. Hose pipes are not allowed to be used for watering gardens and washing cars, however there is no enforcement to stop people from filling up swimming pools or hot tubs and commercial car washes will still be in use.
- The Environment
In order to secure future water supplies and to protect the natural environment the ways in which water companies interact with the natural water cycle are monitored. The main concerns of the regulatory bodies are to:
- Control discharges to rivers and seas
- Conserve water resources
- Prevent pollution
- Promote conservation
- Regulate companies which impact the environment through a system of licenses
- Quality Drinking Water
The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs - Defra -are responsible for all aspects of water policy in England and Wales. In Scotland this is the Scottish Executive and in Northern Ireland the industry is overseen by the Water Services.
In order to secure future water supplies and to protect the natural environment the ways in which water companies interact with the natural water cycle are monitored. The main concerns of the regulatory bodies are to:
- Control discharges to rivers and seas
- Conserve water resources
- Prevent pollution
- Promote conservation
- Regulate companies which impact the environment through a system of licenses
Resources Defra
Scottish Executive
Water Services
Water UK