[ Draft Flood and Water Management Bill - Impacts to Utilities Companies ]

"The drought in South East England in 2004-06 and the nationwide floods of Summer 2007 brought home to us what climate change means. We need to be better prepared in the future for both flood and droughts, and ensure that we manage our water resources sustainably."

Draft Flood and Water Management Bill, April 2009

What does this mean for you and your business?

Our policy team has been working hard over the past few weeks evaluating the proposed changes detailed within the Draft Flood and Water Management Bill.
We have summarised the key points below…

Impacts to Utilities Companies

• It is suggested that minimum design and construction standards will be imposed for all new sewers and lateral drains that intend to connect to the public system, with automatic adoption by water and sewerage companies.

• Changes to enhance Ofwat’s regulatory powers would simplify the procedure for changing the conditions of appointment of all water and/or sewerage companies and extended financial penalties will incentivise companies to comply with obligations and protect customers. Ofwat would have powers to require information from a company that fails to reach any standard of performance.

• There will be an introduction of a targeted approach to reservoir safety based on a risk-based reservoir regulatory regime.

• Water companies will be able to ban a wider range of discretionary uses of water and so take action to conserve water at an early stage of drought conditions.

Need to find out more about the Draft Bill or flood risk issues in general? Contact us now for a free consultation on +44(0)1273 704 441 or to obtain your personalised summary review of the Draft Flood and Water Management Bill.