Ofwat calls for immediate action from firms on sewage pollution

“By the time we reach PR24, there should already be real improvements visible” in companies’ wastewater performance, according to Ofwat’s senior director of strategy, finance, and infrastructure John Russell.

In a speech, published last week, Russell acknowledged the complex interdependencies affecting water quality and noted there is a shared sense of ambition to address the challenges facing wastewater infrastructure. But he nevertheless called for water companies to take action now to secure real improvements, given the priority attached to pollution and wastewater performance.

“In the immediate term, companies have the ability and the resources available to make an impact now. They know what their obligations are, what is the right thing to do, and it isn't acceptable to hide behind regulation or say they can't do anything until the next price review. We need water company responses to the legitimate concerns about pollution from their networks to be timely, accessible, and transparent. Too often the response has been silence.”

Russell continued: “Companies need to urgently look at how they are monitoring and maintaining their wastewater networks and assets targeting the places where failures cause the most harm as well as establishing how they can better use real time data to predict and prevent issues occurring. They also need to implement customer engagement plans that provide education on the impact of non-biodegradable waste on our networks. Implementing nature-based solutions and sustainable urban drainage schemes can be cost effective and are key to keeping water out of the sewer network in the first place.

"I think it will also be important to see a change in company culture and commitment. We will all want to see companies give more thought as to how to tackles these issues; whilst improving their transparency and engagement with stakeholders.”