Who are we?
Ofwat (the Office of
Water Services) is responsible for making sure that the water and
sewerage companies in England and Wales give you a good quality, efficient
service at a fair price. We are a government department led by The
Director General of Water Services.
What is Ofwat's role?
Ofwat is the economic
regulator of the water industry. It set limits on what the water and
sewerage companies can charge. He also makes sure that the water and
sewerage companies carry out their responsibilities under the Water
Industry Act 1991. Ofwat protects the standards of service you receive,
and encourges the companies to become efficient. Ofwat undertakes
activities to allow more effective competition to develop. The
performance of the companies is compared which helps the poor performers
to rise to the standards of the best."
Centre City Tower
7 Hill Street
Birmingham B5 4UA
United Kingdom
Telephone:+44
(0)121 625 1300
Facsimile:+44 (0)121 625 1400
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Environment
Agency
Vision:
A better environment in
England and Wales for present and future generations.
Aims:
To achieve major and continuous
improvements in the quality of air, land and water.
To encourage the conservation
of natural resources, animals and plants.
To make the most of pollution
control and river-basin management.
To provide effective defence
and warning systems to protect people and property against
flooding from rivers and the sea.
To reduce the amount of waste
by encouraging people to re-use and recycle their waste.
To improve standards of waste
disposal.
To manage water resources to
achieve the proper balance between the country's needs and
the environment.
To work with other organisations
to reclaim contaminated land.
To improve and develop salmon
and freshwater fisheries.
To conserve and improve river
navigation.
To tell people about environmental
issues by educating and informing.
To set priorities and work
out solutions that society can afford.
We will do this by:
being open and consulting others
about our work;
basing our decisions around
sound science and research;
valuing and developing our
employees; and
being efficient and businesslike
in all we do.
General Enquiry Line
0845 9333111
Emergency Hotline 0800 807060
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Drinking
Water Inspectorate
Our main job is to check
that the water companies in England and Wales supply water that is
safe to drink and meets the standards set in the Water Quality Regulations.
We also investigate complaints from consumers and incidents which
affect or could affect drinking water quality. Our investigations
of incidents can lead to water companies being prosecuted.
Floor 2/A1, Ashdown
House, 123 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6DE
Telephone : 020 7944 5956 - Facsimile : 020 7944 5969
E-mail: dwi_enquiries@detr.gov.uk
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Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR)
responsible for the legal
structure of the water industry and how it is regulated. Also responsible
for developing and putting into practice EC Directives affecting the
water industry and the water environment generally
The DETR aims to improve
everyone’s quality of life, now and for the future, through:
thriving, prosperous regions and
communities;
better transport;
better housing;
a better environment;
safer, healthier surroundings;
and
prudent use of natural resources.
Our ten objectives are
listed below:
To protect and improve the environment
and to integrate the environment with other policies across
Government and internationally.
To offer everyone the opportunity
of a decent home and so promote social cohesion, well-being
and self-dependence.
To promote modern and integrated
transport for everyone and to reduce the impact of transport
on the environment.
To provide customer-focused regulatory
and other transport services and to collect taxes fairly and
efficiently.
To enhance opportunity in rural
areas, improve enjoyment of the countryside and conserve and
manage wildlife resources.
To promote a sustainable pattern
of physical development and land and property use in cities,
towns and the countryside.
To promote a system of elected
government in England which responds to the needs of local communities.
To enhance sustainable economic
development and social cohesion throughout England through effective
regional action and integrated local regeneration programmes.
To secure an efficient market
in the construction industry, with innovative and successful
UK firms that meet the needs of clients and society and are
competitive at home and abroad.
To improve health and safety by
reducing risks from work activity, travel and the environment.
In delivering these objectives
DETR will:
work in partnership with others
in the public and private sectors;
be open and accountable;
be a strong voice in pursuing
UK interests in Europe and elsewhere;
deliver high quality services
to the public;
use available resources in the
manner which is most efficient and secures best value for money,
taking account of the costs and benefits;
de-centralise decision-making
wherever possible; and
create opportunities for all our
staff and ensure they are equipped with the skills they need.
See also:
Water Quality Division
Department of the
Environment, Transport and the Regions
Eland House
Bressenden Place
LONDON SW1E 5DU
Tel: 020 7944 3000
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Environment
Agency Wales
Our Vision
A better environment in
Wales for present and future generations.
Our aims
To achieve major and continuous
improvements in the quality of air, land and water.
To encourage the conservation of
natural resources, animals and plants.
To make the most of pollution control
and river-basin management.
To provide effective defence and
warning systems to protect people and property against flooding
from rivers and the sea.
To reduce the amount of waste by
encouraging people to re-use and recycle their waste.
To improve standards of waste disposal.
To manage water resources to achieve
the proper balance between the country’s needs and the environment.
To work with other organisations
to reclaim contaminated land.
To improve and develop salmon and
freshwater fisheries.
To conserve and improve river navigation.
To tell people about environmental
issues by educating and informing.
To set priorities and work out solutions
that society can afford.
We will do this by:
being open and consulting others
about our work;
basing our decisions around sound
science and research;
valuing and developing our employees;
and
being efficient and businesslike
in all we do.
Enviroment Agency General Enquiry Line: 0845 9333 111
Environment Agency Emergency Hotline: 0800 80 70 60
Environment Agency
Wales
Rivers House
St. Mellons Business Park
Fortran Road
St. Mellons
Cardiff
CF3 OEY
Tel: 029 20770088
Fax: 029 20798555
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Water
Industry Commissioner for Scotland
Alan D A Sutherland took
up his new post as Water Industry Commissioner for Scotland on November
1 1999. The
primary role of the Commissioner is to promote the interests of customers
of the three Scottish water authorities and to advise the Scottish Executive
about the level of water authority charges. More specific, the Commissioners'
duties include:
providing advice on the charges cap
necessary to provide the water authorities with enough resources
to fund investment;
consideration and approval of the
water authorities' annual charges scheme;
investigation of complaints not resolved
between customers and their water authority;
advising Scottish Ministers on the
water authorities' standards of service and customer relations;
approval of the water authorities'
codes of customer practice ;
chairing of the three Consultative
Committees and appointing members to the committees;
provision of advice, when requested
by Scottish Ministers, on a range of matters relating to the impact
of the water authorities on their customers.
The Water Industry Commissioner
for Scotland
Ochil House
Springkerse Business Park
Stirling
FK7 7XE
Tel 01786 430200
Fax 01786 462018
E-mail enquiries@watercommissioner.co.uk
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Scottish
Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)
The Scottish
Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is the public body responsible
for environmental protection in Scotland. It was established under the
Environment Act 1995 and became fully operational from 1 April
1996.
SEPA's
main aim is: " to provide an efficient and integrated environmental
protection system for Scotland which will both improve the environment
and contribute to the Government's goal of sustainable development."
SEPA regulates
potential pollution of natural waters and the air and the storage, transportation
and disposal of controlled waste and the keeping of radioactive materials.
In fulfilment of it's broader duty to bring about environmental improvement
in Scotland, SEPA provides extensive guidance and advice to regulated
organisations and works in partnership with others to deliver environmental
goals through non-statutory means.
SEPA
Head Office
Erskine Court
Castle Business Park
STIRLING
FK9 4TR
Tel: 01786 457700
Fax: 01786 446885
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Northern
Ireland executive - Department of the Environment
Vision
The Department exists to improve the quality of life
of everyone in Northern Ireland through the economic, effective, efficient
and equitable exercise of its responsibilities.
Aims
The Department aims to be an organisation which is continuously
improving how it serves its customers and the taxpayer.
Strategic Objectives
Guide the development of land through an effective planning
process. Conserve, protect and improve the natural and built environment. Place the concept of sustainable development at the head of
DOE policies and promote it across the NI Executive. Improve road safety. Promote a system of local government which meets the needs of
citizens and ratepayers. Promote equality of opportunity and fair treatment for all in
the implementation of the Department's responsibilities Provide and continuously improve the effective delivery of DOE's
service to ensure value for money and improved service to customers Contribute to the realisation of the overall aims and objectives
and policy priorities of the Northern Ireland Executive, including
the Programme for Government
Clarence Court
10-18 Adelaide Street
Belfast
BT1 2GB
Telephone: 028 9054 0540
E-mail: cmb@doeni.gov.uk
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Water
Quality in the European Union
As early as the 1970's the
European Union began to develop some common rules to protect the aquatic
environment and prevent pollution. This site attempts to clarify
the objectives of these different water directives, their achievements,
the difficulties one may encounter when implementing them and the most
recent developments.
water@dg11.cec.be
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European Environment Agency - water
Human health and development
are threatened in many places because of insufficient or poor quality
water. Within this section you will find information on the state
of groundwater, rivers and lakes, water quantity and quality trends.
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Water
UK
(the trade association of water companies, formerly the
Water Services Association)
What does Water UK do?
Water UK is a membership
organisation to which all the regulated water operators in the UK belong.
Its focus is to enable the water industry to address issues of common
interest and communicate its views to those outside. It works for positive
conditions in which the industry can best make its essential contribution
to the national economy and quality of life.
Working in partnership,
Water UK helps the industry to develop by:
looking ahead to define and communicate
its policies at national level caring for its reputation providing forums for debate about
water and waste water and the future of utilities being a focus for accessible and
reliable information.
1 Queen Anne's Gate
London SW1H 9BT
Phone: 0207-344 1844
Fax: 0207-344 1866
Email: info@water.org.uk
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WaterWatch is a voluntary
network of campaigners, groups and individuals, concerned with all water
issues (consumer, environmental, regulatory and health) in England and
Wales. Set up in February 1994, it has played an important role in promoting
debate about the water industry and exposed a number of problems and shortcomings.
WaterWatch welcomes contact with organisations and individuals who are
concerned with water issues.
The main contact is the
National Campaigns Officer:
Pete Bowler
259 South Street, Rotherham S61 2NW
Telephone: 01709 558561
Fax: 01709 552479
WaterWatch
in the Anglian Water Region
Anglian Water are the main
provider of water and sewage services for the Eastern England lying between
the estuaries of the Humber and the Thames. The Region covers the
Counties of Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Leicestershire,
Hertfordshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, and Suffolk.
Contact: Mick Brown
Waterwatch in Anglia,
Redleas Lane
South Cockerington, Louth
Lincolnshire, England.
e-mail: wwanglia@aol.com
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What's
in Your Backyard
a set of tools to explore environmental
data from the national level right down to your local environment (Enivronment
Agency site)
E-mail: bob.huggins@environment-agency.gov.uk
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National
Pure Water Association
fighting fluoridation of drinking water supplies
The
National Pure Water Association
is a non profit company pledged to fight fluoridation of drinking water
supplies
Water is essential to
life. We all have to drink it.
It is the business of
the water companies to supply a clean, safe potable source of water.
It is the business of
government to enact legislation to control the water companies.
It is not the business
of government to use the water supply to medicate the population without
their consent.
This
would be the position even if fluoride were shown to be harmless, but
this is not the case.
NATIONAL PURE WATER
ASSOCIATION'S Admin Office:
12 Dennington Lane, Crigglestone, Wakefield, WF4 3ET, UK
Phone: 01924 25 44 33
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Environmental Data Services Ltd
(ENDS)
Reporting
breaking European environmental news to a worldwide audience.
Published by e-mail and on the internet each
business day. Web based archive
with powerful search facilities. Available
on annual subscription.
ENDS
Environmental Jobs Search is a free resource for environmental professionals
looking for jobs or training. Register to search the database and access
the weekly updates.
The
essential UK journal of environmental policy and business.
Free
directory of environmental consultancies, plus industry news and market
intelligence.
40 Bowling
Green Lane
London EC1R 0NE, UK
Tel: +44 (0)20 7814 5300
Fax: +44 (0)20 7415 0106
E-mail: post@ends.co.uk
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UK
Water Industry Marketing and Intelligence
The UK Water Industry Website
Paul M Hipwell Associates
Church Vale House
Church Lane
Badgworth, Axbridge
Somerset
BS26 2QP
Tel: 0 1934 733411 Fax 01934
733653
Email PaulHipwell@compuserve.com
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Institute
of Freshwater Ecology
In addition to a programme
of basic research, funded by the science budget of NERC, the CEH undertakes
commissioned research for a wide range of customers including:
Department of the Environment
Department of Energy
English Nature
Scottish Natural Heritage
Countryside Council for Wales
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries
and Food
National Rivers Authority
Water Companies Overseas Development Administration Natural Resources Institute
The British Council
Commission of the European Communities
National Power
Scottish Office Departments
Regional Councils
Private Industry
Centre for Ecology and
Hydrology
CEH Windermere Laboratory
Ambleside
Cumbria
LA22 0LP
Tel (+44) 15394 42468 Fax (+44) 15394 46914
email: adp@ceh.ac.uk
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Surfers
Against Sewerage
Surfers Against Sewage exist
because 'Everyone needs protecting'. Everyone has the right to a clean,
safe water environment and the right to enjoy that environment, without
fear of getting ill. SAS are ultimate testimony to the fact that with
gritty determination, the right attitude and hard hitting facts, you can
take on the fat cats and win. Take a look at our site, as a grass roots,
single issue pressure group SAS have taken on the UK Government, the Water
Industry and the legislators and have won respect and credibility, the
results speak for themselves!
Surfers Against Sewage
Ltd.
Wheal Kitty Workshops
St Agnes, Cornwall
England TR5 0RD.
Tel: 01872 553001 Fax: 01872 552615
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SludgeWatch
- The Sewage Sludge Action Group in the UK
Our AIMS & Objectives may be summarised
by the following:
Email: staguk@aol.com
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Marine
Conservation Society
The Marine Conservation Society
(MCS) is the UK's national charity for the marine environment and its
wildlife.
9 Gloucester Rd,
Ross-on-Wye,
Herefordshire,
HR9 5BU
Tel: 01989 566017
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FOUNDATION
for
WATER
RESEARCH
An independent, non-profit
making organisation that promotes and disseminates research on all
aspects of water, wastewater and related environmental issues.
Allen House,
The Listons,
Liston Road,
Marlow,
Bucks., SL7 1 FD
(Tel +44(0)1628 891589)
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