WATER SERVICES
REGULATION AUTHORITY News Release (PN 24/08) issued by The
Government News Network on 31 July 2008
Ofwat today
publishes a comprehensive policy statement on climate change and
the water sector in England and Wales. Because the services
provided by the sector are fundamental to life, and we all rely on
them daily, the document recognises that climate change will
impact all of us.
"Preparing for the future: Ofwat's climate change
policy" gathers together in one document all of Ofwat's
policies in relation to climate change. It shows how climate
change is affecting the water and sewerage sector and how our
policies recognise this.
Among the issues covered in the policy statement are:
- Reducing leakage and water consumption can help secure
increasingly valuable water resources and reduce emissions. Last
year's leakage reduction alone led to a saving of 35 tonnes
of carbon dioxide (CO2e) emissions per day - equivalent to driving
an average car over 140,000 miles.
- Last summer's floods demonstrated the impacts extreme
weather events can have on our critical infrastructure. Ofwat
provides guidance on improved resilience and drainage to protect
consumers from hazards such as severe weather.
- The bills consumers pay must provide value for money,
particularly in these difficult economic times, and lead to sound
investments which meet the challenges of the future, including
climate change - Ofwat sets a clear framework using cost benefit
analysis to achieve this.
The policy statement helps water and waste water companies to
look comprehensively at impacts of climate change and make the
right changes to their operations at an appropriate pace to
benefit both consumers and environment.
Ofwat Chief Executive Regina Finn said:
"This policy statement pulls together in one single place,
the comprehensive and wide-ranging policy actions Ofwat is taking
to ensure the sector is responding to the challenges of climate change.
"This is a long term issue - changing weather patterns are
guaranteed for decades to come - and the sector must adapt to cope
with that, while at the same time taking responsibility for its
emissions and playing an appropriate part in reducing the amount
of greenhouse gases produced in the UK."
The production of this single policy statement is in line with
Ofwat's approach to sustainability, which takes a long term
view of the sector.
Notes to Editors:
1. The Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat) is the
economic regulator of water and sewerage companies in England and
Wales. It exercises its powers in a way that it judges will
protect the interests of consumers, promote value and safeguard
future water and sewerage services by allowing efficient companies
to carry out their functions properly, and finance them.
2. A copy of "Preparing for the future - Ofwat's
climate change policy statement" is on the Ofwat website http://www.ofwat.gov.uk
Centre City Tower
7 Hill Street
Birmingham
B5 4UA