Supplementary note from Ofwat on the joint
Ofwat/DWI project reviewing water quality indicators of serviceability
for customers
Since the last periodic review of prices Ofwat
and the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) have been working together
to review the water quality serviceability indicators used to
inform regulatory decisions on asset performance and the future
capital maintenance needs of the water companies. We saw a need
to work together first to develop a series of plausible options.
This would then provide the basis for a focussed consultation
with the industry and interested parties.
In November 2000, consultants WS Atkins were
appointed to assist in the development of a set of robust serviceability
indicators for water treatment, supply and distribution to measure
water company performance in maintaining serviceability of water
supply assets. These will be used to inform decisions on asset
maintenance requirements. The initial phase was a scoping exercise.
Phase 2 of the review has as its objectives:
— To improve understanding of links
between drinking water quality and the operation and maintenance
of treatment and distribution system assets in maintaining serviceability
to customers.
— To review critically current methods
of measuring serviceability of water supply assets.
— To investigate the options available
for improvements to current indicators of serviceability for water
supply assets.
This work is nearing completion. We have received
an encouraging draft report from WS Atkins, which we are considering.
We expect to receive WS Atkins' final report on the assignment
in April 2001.
We shall be publishing the Phase 2 report in
due course, with a view to consulting the industry on the work
done to date. The next steps with this initiative will need the
help and co-operation of the water companies.
We shall forward a copy of the Phase 2 report
to the Committee when it is published.
March 2001
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