Satisfaction levels rank GB water second globally

The water and sewerage sector in Great Britain has been rated the second highest in the world behind Germany in an international survey of satisfaction.

Levels of satisfaction with British water services ranked 18 points higher than the global average.

The poll from Ipsos for the Global Infrastructure Investor Association showed 73 per cent of respondents called water and sewerage services “good”, compared to 55 per cent globally.

Domestically, water was the second highest rated infrastructure sector – behind airports but ahead of motorways, wind energy, rail infrastructure and flood defences.

Despite the renationalisation threat looming, public ownership was not a priority for survey respondents, with 8 per cent who said that ownership either public or private should be an important factor in future infrastructure planning.

More than half – 58 per cent – favoured private investment in infrastructure and 62 per cent said they would prefer technical experts than elected politicians to make decisions about new infrastructure.

Michael Roberts, Water UK chief executive, said: “The water industry in this country has invested billions of pounds in making our water and sewerage services some of the best in the world, and it is good to see the recognition for the many advances and improvements made over the years. We are a long way from where we were 30 years ago, when chronic underfunding made us the Dirty Man of Europe. Now our cleaner beaches, healthier waterways, and ambitious plans for the future make us the envy of the world.”

Only 22 per cent of survey respondents thought water and sewerage infrastructure in Britain should be a priority for investment with roads, flood defences, rail infrastructure, housing, and digital/broadband infrastructure ranked as higher priorities.