Oct. 19, 2000 (M2 Communications)—The North West's local water customer watchdog is calling for action to eliminate the problem of raw sewage flooding into customers' homes.
The North West Customer Service Committee (CSC) - which speaks independently of the regulator - has written to North West Water in a bid to help local customers suffering from the misery of sewer flooding in the region.
Several recent cases have highlighted the devastation which can be caused to families whose homes have been flooded by sewage discharged from sewers unable to cope with a sudden increase in water volume during heavy storms.
North West Water will be spending GBP3 billion over the next five years, mainly on work ordered by the Government and quality regulators to improve the region's environment and water quality.
The CSC has already written to Michael Meacher, both as a local MP and Minister for the Environment, with concern about the decisions taken on the pace of environmental investment in the region. It would like Government to direct some of these funds to be diverted to tackle the scourge of sewer flooding.
CSC Chairman Maurice Terry, said,"It is bizarre that the problem of people's homes being flooded by untreated sewage is not classified as an environmental issue. The CSC is calling for Government to make elimination of sewer flooding a statutory obligation.
"The CSC believes that diverting resources to tackle this issue would have the overwhelming support of customers, whether they are personally affected or not. It is customers who will be paying for the Company's investment programme and customers have told us that tackling this issue is their top priority."
About CSCs
CSCs are the local independent water watchdogs representing the interests of all water and sewerage customers in their region. They were set up by the Director General of Water Services (the Director). They have their own statutory identity and duties. They are concerned solely with the interests of customers and do not have the Director's wider duties, which he has to exercise and balance as regulator.
CSCs help by:
- investigating and resolving complaints;
- making sure the companies are aware of, and responsive to concerns about the range and quality of services available; and
- representing customers' interests to the Directors, so that he can take customer concerns into account in making his decisions.
There are around 2000 properties in the North West deemed to be at risk from sewer flooding at least once every 10 years.
In their recent review of prices, following representations from the CSC, Ofwat made funds available to reduce the number of flooding incidents by a quarter during the period 2000 to 2005.
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