Public water services are monitored and controlled by government-appointed regulators who set legally-binding standards and report each year on progress. Regulation is focused in four main areas: finance and economics; environmental impact; drinking water quality; and health and safety.
• Finance & economics
• Environment
• Drinking water quality
• Health & safety
In England and Wales the Water Services Regulatory Authority (Ofwat) has the duty to protect customers’ interests while ensuring that the water companies finance and carry out their functions properly. Ofwat also sets water prices. For Scottish Water, this duty lies with the Water Industry Commission. In Northern Ireland this role is currently carried out by government but this will change from 2009, starting with the price review for 2010-2015, when the Utility Regulator for Northern Ireland will take over.
The water industry depends upon the natural environment in order to provide water and recycle wastewater. In Northern Ireland environmental impact is regulated by the Department of the Environment, in Scotland via the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and in England and Wales by the Environment Agency.
As well as the many thousands of tests for drinking water quality carried out by water companies themselves, supplies are continually monitored to EU and UK standards – by a department of government in Northern Ireland, the Drinking Water Quality Regulator in Scotland and the Drinking Water Inspectorate in England and Wales.
Within the workplace, government health and safety regulators ensure protection of people – the Health and Safety Executive of Northern Ireland and the Health and Safety Commission in Britain.
Non-government agencies, including consumer organisations and environmental stakeholders, also play a large part in informing water policy and practice across the sector.
Regulator linksEconomicEngland & Wales
Ofwat
Scotland
Water Industry Commission
Northern Ireland
Review of water services
EnvironmentEngland & Wales
Environment Agency
Scotland
Scottish Environment Protection Agency
Northern Ireland
Environment & Heritage Service
Drinking waterEngland & Wales
Drinking Water Inspectorate
Scotland
Drinking Water Quality Regulator
Northern Ireland
Drinking Water Inspectorate
Health & safetyEngland, Scotland, Wales
Health and Safety Commission
Northern Ireland
Health and Safety Executive
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