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UK water companies provide essential infrastructure and services that support all industries and sectors and drive economic growth.

It is looking increasingly uncertain that any member state of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) will achieve good status in all water bodies by 2015, and significant use of exemptions is likely to be required.

Water UK has sent a submission to the Labour Party on their ‘Democratic Public Ownership’ consultation. The submission also examines the Labour Party’s ‘Clear Water’ proposals for nationalising the water and sewerage industry in England. Our view is that, if implemented, the proposals could seriously damage the provision and quality of water and sewerage services in England.

Post-referendum, the water sector like all other industries is assessing the potential impacts across a range of areas. These include the strength of the UK’s economy and the ability to attract investment, legislation and regulation in the environment and other business issues.

The future regulatory framework was the main theme of debate among water companies, investors and stakeholders at the recent Water UK City Conference. Views were given from attendees on Ofwat’s Water 2020 framework. Rory Stewart MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at DEFRA also spoke at the conference.

The second quarterly report of developer service standards shows water companies have improved on their overall levels of delivery and performance. The second quarterly figures for water supply have risen from 89% to 93% in response to 125,000 developer requests. For sewerage they are up from 94% to 97% - in response to 9,000 developer requests.

Following widespread consultation with developers, self-lay companies and their representative organisations, water companies have introduced a new set of standards for the provision of water and sewerage infrastructure for new homes and other construction projects.