Water Industry Suppliers Group calls for infrastructure spend

The Water Industry Suppliers Group (WISG) has expressed concern that Ofwat intends to reduce capital expenditure as suggested in the 1999 Price Review while work is still urgently needed on the country's pipeline infrastructure. According to WISG, Ofwat concedes that the first ten year programme of capital expenditure has focused on treatment and quality and that the Government has decided that a major spend on quality is still required during 2000-2005.


“Ofwat wants to slash total investment funding which could leave the enormous and vital area of pipeline infrastructure under-maintained,” commented WISG. “It is folly to contemplate reduction in capital spending on water unless, and until, the quality and sustainability of the buried systems matches the excellence of the above ground facilities.”

WISG states that only one per cent of critical sewers have been renovated or replaced during the past decade. It points out that The Royal Academy of Engineering has called for a national plan to achieve bulk water security across company boundaries and says Ofwat has made no provision for this.

WISG calls for modernisation of the infrastructure and believes the public would support such a move.

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