Sewage watchdog makes pledge following criticism
The watchdog responsible for regulating the water and sewerage industry, Ofwat, has pledged to work more closely with local authorities across the south coast to hold southern Water to account.
Ofwat – the Water Services Regulation Authority – pledged to better partnership working with local authorities at a meeting organised by the southern waters takeholder Group on January 19.
The Southern Water Stakeholder group was setup to put pressure on Southern Water – which is responsible for wastewater across the region and for drinking water in other parts of the southeast – in light of pollution and flooding concerns.
Ofwat’ spl edge follows criticism s by councils that the watchdog has not been effective in holding Southern Water to account.
During the meeting, which was attended by Southern Water, council officials said responses fromthe organisation have been continuously slow and unacceptable and the company failed to deliver promised upgrades. They asked Ofwat what local authorities could do to expedite complaints about Southern Water and how Ofwat carried out compliance checks against the company.
There were also criticisms that Ofwat is not monitoring Southern Water closely enough or ensuring that the water company is work in gefficiently. Council representatives explained that a much clearer understanding was needed of how councils can work with Ofwat to resolve problems and called on the water regulator to proactively help local authorities. They also asked for reassurance from of watt hat water companies, such as southern water, are delivering on their promises to invest in infrastructure improvements.
Chichester District
Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for the Environment, Cllr Jonathan Brown, and Cabinet Member for Planning, Cllr Bill Brisbane, also attended the meeting.
“Chi chester district council is one of 24 councils across the southeast that have joined together to hold Southern Water to account over pollution and infrastructure failings,” said Cllr Brisbane. “We have been challenging
Southern Water in relation to their engagement with both the planning process and the environmental impacts of discharging sewage into Chichester Harbour for sometime. This includes previously filing an official complaint about the company to the Ofwat.
“By joining forces with other local councils, we have been able to apply significant pressure on Southern Water. The Southern Water Stakeholder Group was set up in response to issues including flooding; sewage backing up into people’s homes, gardens and roads; the ongoing problem of discharges into rivers and waterways; and the inability to deal with additional development.”
In the meeting on 19 January, Ofwat’s representative explained that the body’s fundamental duty is to ensure that customer and environment interests are met but that it was keen as a growing organisation to have evidence in advance of concerns so it could hear from the water companies how those issues could be addressed.
Chair of the Southern Water Stakeholder group, Wealden Councillor Rachel Millward, said: “It was once again very useful for all the local authorities across the southeast to express their concerns and raise the local issues their residents face.
“However, the disappointing reality is that Ofwat effectively allows Southern Water to mark its own homework, with no monitoring to ensure that promised improvements are made.”