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This week Water UK published for the first time an extensive set of statistics relating to the performance of services by water and sewerage companies for their developer customers. Arising from the Government's Better Connected guide, this new quarterly report aims to provide transparency about companies' performance over a wide range of activities, with a view to driving up standards.

The water sector has delivered major benefits to customers, society and the environment over the past 25 years. Our water supplies are even more reliable, our drinking water remains among the best in the world and our rivers and beaches are cleaner than ever before. This success has been underpinned by partnerships, in particular with investors.

Drinking water in the UK is among the very best in the world and any further EU intervention could lead to unnecessary extra costs to customers. In response to the latest EU consultation on the Drinking Water Directive, Water UK said any future changes to drinking water quality standards must be based on robust scientific evidence of risks to human health.

The European Commission is considering measures to control the levels and types of pharmaceuticals and chemicals in the environment and water. The Commission believes there could be risks to public health, although there is currently no robust scientific data about how serious the risks are. Water UK is concerned that the Commission could decide more stringent sewerage treatment is the answer, which could lead to substantial extra costs for companies and customers.

Following an initiative from government late last year, the water sector was quick to establish a scheme to compare companies’ performances relating to delivery of infrastructure. The second performance report was published in October. Related further initiatives include the industry’s own system for measuring customer satisfaction, planned for launch in 2016, and an overhaul of the charging regime made possible by Water Act 2014.