Water companies look at how future challenges should be meet

Photo source: Paul Hipwell

The Water industry has rightly got in early with publishing its views on how the water industry should respond to changing economic and environmental circumstances. Water UK has published a joint industry response called Meeting Future Challenges, a blue print for policy action. It calls for: “a measured pace for improvements that ensures, overall, that prices are affordable”.

Its timing is good as the new coalition Government also announces its  

Programme for Government which contains clear commitments on the environment especially: “We will examine the conclusions of the Cave and Walker Reviews, and reform the water industry to ensure more efficient use of water and the protection of poorer households”

Getting the balance right between investing in improving water quality and ensuring that customers can afford the bills is a huge challenge for the industry. Perhaps the best example is the Thames Tideway project which while transforming the quality of the Thames comes at a huge price, estimated at about £50 per household for Londoners.

It is essential that the water industry attracts the best people and most creative minds to find solutions to these conundrums. It also needs an environment where innovation is encouraged. On all these fronts the water industry has a long way to go.