SEARCH

MEMBER LOGIN

Membership No:
Email Address or Surname:

ANSWERED QUESTIONS

 

 

Why is there a difference between the regulatory standards prescribed by OFWAT and those within the Water Act?
Legal minimum standards are prescribed under the the Water Industry Act 1991. However...
 

 

Do other countries have the equivalent of OFWAT? If not, how are they regulated?
England and Wales are unique in the way water services are privately owned, operated and heavily regulated by a number of regulators. It is difficult...
 

 

What the implementation of the Water Framework Directive means for water companies is still unclear. How will OFWAT ensure that the cost burden to customers is fair in comparison to other stakeholders...
Defra has set out river basin planning guidance in a document to the Environment Agency (EA). One of the principles in the document...
 

 

What impact will the move to biofuels have on the water industry - is it a threat or opportunity ?
The impacts of major new investment and development of biofuel production in the UK will have an impact on various areas of the water industry. These will range from...
 

 

Why does per capita consumption vary so much between the water companies?
For a number of reasons including socio-economic variations, climate and pressure to methodological assumptions...
 

 

What is the largest water treatment works in the world and how much water can it output?
There seem to be several candidates and categories here and I have chosen 3 to illustrate the possibilities...

 

What is the largest sewage treatment works in the world and how much sewage can it process per day?
There are probably several claimants, depending on the parameter chosen, dry solids out or liquid in...

 

Why don't we have any desalination plants in the UK?
To date, desalination has been seen as an expensive option compared to other ways of developing water resources or...

 

Much work is currently underway by the water companies in preparation for PR09?
The attached summary from the briefing note on Water Industry Finance and Investment Priorities and Prices answers this question...

 

What is the economic level of leakage? How is it measured?
This is the point from which reducing leakage actually costs more than developing new...

 

How does the UK leakage rate compare with the rest of Europe and which EU country has the lowest leakage rates?
We are about average, according to Ofwat's latest 'international comparisons' report. However...

 

With such a high level of drinking water quality compliance in the UK why do we continue to invest in quality, surely we should now be spending on reducing leakage where many companies are not so successful???
A good question and a fairly straight forward answer...

 

Its been pouring with rain here recently, are we now over the drought and are water levels back to normal in the South East?
With the recent rainfall, and the continued support of customers in managing demand for water...

 

Given the dry summer this year, do the experts believe that the UK should invest in a national water grid?
The quick answer is that given the evidence we have at this time, it is no. There are different aspects to consider though when...

 

How much water should I be drinking each day to help me stay healthy over the winter?
The most helpful answer is typically 'more than you do now'. Surprisingly, while we know a...

 

A customer requires a supply of 1 l/s maximum instantaneous demand, 1.5 km from the nearest water main.
If the water company will only guarantee 15 metres static head what size supply pipe...
A pipe with 60 mm internal bore is suitable if there is negligible elevation difference between the connection to the main and the point of discharge at the customer's premises...

 

With much press and tv media coverage and programs such as Watchdog about customer service and in most cases its failings, how do you feel the Water Industry, as a whole, deals with customer...
Consumers in all sectors have the right to the best possible levels of service. In a normal commercial relationship, a dissatisfied customer can take their business elsewhere if they are not happy with the...