AquaBlog
Author: Scott Watt, Strategy, Policy & Governance, WST Limited | Contact: scott.watt@wstuk.com
January 2015
The water industry supplies goods and services which are essential to health, well-being and economic stability. These services are
coming under increasing pressure as a result of a growing population and a changing climate. To meet these challenges, we need to see changes in the way water is managed. Water companies will need to be more innovative, more efficient and more attentive to what their customers want.As we enter 2015, it is worth re capping upon some key facts about Water Regulation:
Since privatisation in 1989, the regulatory framework for the water sector has enabled companies to attract over £108 billion in low-cost investment. This has meant they can upgrade water and sewerage networks and improve customer service and environmental standards.
Water and sewerage services in England and Wales are provided by private companies. These are regulated by OFWAT to ensure that consumers receive high standards of service at a fair price. Support for household and business consumers is also available from the Consumer Council of Water, and they represent water and sewerage consumers in England and Wales and takes up unresolved complaints.
The Water Act of 2014 received Royal Assent on 14 May 2014 and included two measures on financial assistance which met commitments made in the Autumn Statement.
- To reduce charges - enabling the government to fund South West Water to cut bills by £50 per year for its household customers from 2013
- For major works - enabling the government to cover exceptional risks in the construction of the Thames Tunnel in London.
December 2014
It is important to reiterate some key issues about water and the effects it has on us all; Water is a pre-condition for all life. It keeps us alive while being a prerequisite for or integral part of most of our daily activities. Stop for a moment and consider the following key water stats...
- 97% of the planet's water is found in oceans and seas.
- 1% of the earth's water is available for drinking water.
- 2% percent is frozen.
- The human body is 75% water.
- The human may survive a month without food.
- The human may survive only 5 days without water.
Aquanomics
Aquanomics involves understanding the scarcity and value ensuring that choices and trade-offs are elaborated, and that incentives are revealed. Aquanomics is now growing and deepening its approach with different aspects and provides a
richer understanding of the background within which growth; risks, innovation and development are managed. Supply & DemandConversations within and between key economic sectors to identify where future water supply or demand overlap, most often simply do not happen. As a result, conflicts between water users are not being understood or factored into decision-making on where to grow, source or manufacture products and how to manage the water resource available. No person, business, organisation or can afford to disregard water’s uniqueness and importance in our lives. Governance Water governance determines how our society manages, uses and allocate the water resources and distribute water and sanitation services. The governance involve the different stakeholder interests as well as the established and evolving rules and relations for the management, use of resources. These work to integrate water and climate policies and practices in order to create communities and support sustainable growth. InterconnectionThe water, energy and food interconnection is currently one of the most active arenas in water related science and policy development. The ever increasing demand for energy and food supplies to support growing populations and economies puts more pressure on diminishing freshwater resources around the world. The interconnectivity of these resources, coupled with the demand and scarcity issues, produces complex challenges of various natures. Corporate ResponsibilityYour business goal is to consolidate internal initiatives and scale effective processes to improve water resource efficiency, productivity and put into place water resource management plans for Flood Risk Management, Unified Drainage, Drainage/Sewer Maintenance and Mapping and adopting Water Saving Technologies.
Any views or opinions presented in the Aquablog by Scott Watt, are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the WSTUK. Employees of WSTUK are directed not to make defamatory statements and not to infringe or authorise any infringement of copyright or any other legal right.
