Ofwat
| Ofwat | |
| Type | Non-ministerial government department |
|---|---|
| Formal name | The Water Services Regulation Authority |
| Established by | Water Industry Act 1991, section 1A |
| Regulates | Water and sewerage undertakers in England and Wales |
| Does not regulate | Drinking water quality, or Scotland |
Ofwat is the economic regulator of the water and sewerage industry in England and Wales. Its formal name is the Water Services Regulation Authority, established under section 1A of the Water Industry Act 1991.[1] It regulates the prices companies may charge, the service standards they must meet and the investment they must make, and it is distinct from the bodies that regulate drinking water quality and the environment.
Constitution and duties[edit]
Section 1A constitutes the Authority and provides for its membership.[1] Section 2 sets out its general duties, which include duties in relation to consumers, to the financing of the functions of relevant undertakers, and to competition.[2]
The Authority replaced the office of the Director General of Water Services, a single office-holder, with a board.
What it does and does not cover[edit]
Ofwat is the economic regulator. Drinking water quality in England and Wales is the responsibility of the Drinking Water Inspectorate,[3] and water quality standards are set by separate regulations.[4] Environmental regulation of discharges sits elsewhere again.
Ofwat's remit does not extend to Scotland, where the industry is organised under the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 and Scottish Water is the single public provider.[5] This distinction matters for anything written as though it applied across the United Kingdom.
Relevance to leaks[edit]
Ofwat's principal connection to leakage is through the performance commitments it sets for companies, which include targets for reducing leakage from the companies' own networks. Those targets concern water lost from mains and from the undertakers' own pipework, not leaks on customers' supply pipes, which are the property owner's responsibility because the supply pipe is the part of the service pipe not vested in the undertaker.[6]
Discretionary customer leak allowances and free first-repair schemes are company policy rather than an Ofwat requirement, and their terms differ between undertakers. Customer-side leaks of the kind ADI Leak Detection is engaged to find fall outside the leakage targets Ofwat sets for water companies.[7]
See also
References
- abWater Industry Act 1991, section 1A: the Water Services Regulation Authority. legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 2026-09-05
- ^Water Industry Act 1991, section 2: general duties of the Authority. legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 2026-09-05
- ^Drinking Water Inspectorate: learn more about your water. Drinking Water Inspectorate. Retrieved 2026-09-05
- ^The Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016. legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 2026-09-05
- ^Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002. legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 2026-09-05
- ^The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999, regulation 1: interpretation. legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 2026-09-05
- ^About ADI Leak Detection. ADI Leak Detection (primary source). Retrieved 2026-09-05