Water Companies Challenged

06/08/08 Water Companies Challenged - KCC

Water companies are facing a legal challenge over their plans for future drinking supplies to cope with Kent’s extra housing.

Kent County Council’s Cabinet has today called on the Environment Secretary Hilary Benn to hold a public inquiry. Members were deeply concerned that customers could be hit by higher bills if the water suppliers fail to work more closely together.

Instead, KCC is calling for a strategic tariff on new developments to pay for better water efficiency for existing homes. At the same time, the council wants vulnerable families protected against higher bills if compulsory metering is introduced in future.

KCC Leader and Cabinet Chairman Paul Carter said: “There is a great danger of houses being built without adequate water supplies and sewerage facilities.

“We have major concerns that the five Kent water companies have not yet come up with satisfactory plans to deliver effective water supplies and sewerage disposal facilities to run in advance of the massive housing growth agenda planned by the Government for Kent. At present, 6,600 homes a year are being recommended in Kent and Medway until 2026.

“In addition, Cabinet is highly concerned that the additional infrastructure costs will eventually fall on the residents of Kent through water rate increases, which are adjudicated upon by Ofwat.”

Five water companies provide supplies to Kent residents – South East, Folkestone and Dover, Southern, Thames, and Sutton and East Surrey. Their future plans for the next 25 years until 2035 are currently under review and have to be approved by the Secretary of State.

For the first time, KCC is being asked for its views, and to assist this, the council took advice from one of the leading UK independent water resources consultants, Chris Binnie.

Copies of the full Cabinet report are available, go online to www.kent.gov.uk/committees/cabinet/4august

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