Reasons drainage and wastewater plans are being developed

WE ASKED water regulator Ofwat about the new drainage and wastewater management plans being published by water companies in England and Wales.

What is the driver for these plans?

The drainage and wastewater management plans are currently being produced on a non-statutory basis. Unlike for water resources, there was no statutory requirement for water and wastewater companies to produce long-term drainage and wastewater management plans, so in 2018-19 the industry came together to build on the principles outlined in the Environment Agency and Ofwat’s drainage strategy framework from 2013 to embed a consistent, structured and collaborative approach across drainage and wastewater planning.

What does Ofwat think a successful drainage and wastewater management plan will look like and achieve?

Guiding principles include striving to deliver resilient infrastructure to meet operational and other pressures, developing mitigation options to help benefit the environment, and facilitating economic growth. Water companies should set out plans to reduce the discharges from storm overflows and any environmental harm from them. This should include improved treatment of sewage, improved storage capacity and natural ways of reducing the volume of water entering the sewage system.

How significantly might the plans add to customers’ water bills?

Any numbers presented in the plans will be draft at this stage. It’s not until companies balance their requirements against other parts of their business plans for the next price review period, and we give our final determinations in late 2024, that we will understand the impact on bills.