Water companies urged to be transparent on environment

Water companies must show leadership on the environment and open their industry to scrutiny, according to a report by the Blueprint for Water coalition.

The coalition, which includes WWF-UK, RSPB and the Marine Conservation Society, said the environmental plans of water companies revealed “a yawning gap between the best and worst performers”.

Affinity Water, United Utilities and Wessex Water were the highest performers, with plans that included “good progress” across 90 per cent of areas.

The six water companies ranked lowest were Bournemouth, Cambridge, South Staffs, Essex and Suffolk, Dee Valley and Sutton and East Surrey Water. The coalition says their business plans include good progress in less than a third of areas.

None of the companies are planning good progress across all areas, according to the report.

The report rates the water companies’ business plans in England and Wales using a traffic light system across 10 environmental areas: from plans to tackle damage from water extraction, to those stopping raw sewage discharge.

Less than half of companies (45 per cent) had good plans to reduce abstraction licences.

In addition, the report stated that just 60 per cent had sufficient plans to tackle water waste through encouraging water efficiency and tackling leakage.

Janina Gray, chair of the Blueprint for Water, said: “Water companies consulted widely in preparing their business plans, and the public gave them a resounding message that – despite the economic climate – they do not want their water providers to pollute or damage the environment. Water companies are monopolies: customers can’t change supplier so it is really important that we shine a light on what’s planned so customers can make sure that they are getting what they asked for.”

The coalition wants regulator Ofwat to ensure that water companies add more on environment to their business plans, which will be finalised in December.