Scottish Water Industry Background
In Scotland, public drinking water and sewerage services are provided by a public sector corporation, Scottish Water, which is accountable to Scottish Ministers and through Ministers to the Scottish Parliament. In England and Wales these services are delivered by private companies.
Scottish Water operates within a regulatory framework established by the Scottish Parliament in which Scottish Ministers, acting on behalf of the people of Scotland, set the objectives for the industry to be delivered at least cost to customers. Key players in this regulatory framework are Scottish Water's economic regulator, the Water Industry Commission for Scotland; the Drinking Water Quality Regulator; the Scottish Environment Protection Agency; the customer representative body, Consumer Futures; and for investigation of complaints, the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.
The water industry contributes to the Scottish Government's Strategic Objectives. In particular, it contributes to a Wealthier and Fairer Scotland through the National Outcome of "Our public services are high quality, continually improving, efficient and responsive to local people's needs".
This section provides information on the water industry in Scotland, specifically: who does what; water charges; improvement to services; the legislation and structure that forms the water industry in Scotland; background documentation; and a section on how to make a complaint.
Water Industry News
10 June 2013: Water Resources (Scotland) Act 2013 (Commencement No.1) Order 2013
Following the signing of commencement order number 1 by Nicola Sturgeon MSP, the following provisions of the Water Resources (Scotland) Act have now been brought into force:
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Part 1 which makes provision in relation to the development of water resources,
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Part 7 and schedules 1 and 2 which make provision in relation to water shortage orders,
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Section 53 and schedule 4 which make minor and consequential repeals.
Further information on this commencement order can be found here.
30 May 2013: Scottish Water Appointments
The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities, Nicola Sturgeon, has now announced the appointment of Matt Smith OBE JP and Douglas Reid as new members of the Board of Scottish Water. These appointments took effect from May 1, 2013.
The Deputy First Minister also announced the re-appointment of Alan Bryce, Lynne Peacock, Jim Spowart and Andrew Wyllie to serve a further term on the Board and acknowledged the contribution of Pat Kelly as a board member who stood down at the end of March 2013 after completing three full terms.
To read more on this topic, please click here.
29 May 2013: Innovation and Choice
The Water Industry Commission for Scotland has published their Strategic Review of Charges for 2015-21 which explains the changes that have been put in place to ensure that the Scottish Water industry is equipped to face the challenges of the future, and continues to provide high quality services at the best value price.
Click here to read the press release and associated documents.
17 May 2013: First Glasgow Flooding Project Complete
Scottish Water has announced that the first flooding project in a multi-million pound scheme of improvements to Scottish Water's waste water network across the greater Glasgow area has been completed. To find out more about this project, click here.
09 May 2013: Consumer Focus changes to Consumer Futures
Consumer Minister Jo Swinson announced the transformation of Consumer Focus into Consumer Futures on Thursday 9 May. This change comes in advance of Consumer Futures becoming part of Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland in April 2014. Follow this link to the new website for further information: http://www.consumerfutures.org.uk/
29 April 2013: Scottish Water Investment: First phase of water mains project completed
Scottish Water has now completed the first phase of Scotland's biggest water mains renewal project to date. The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities, Nicola Sturgeon, commented on Scottish Water's on-going commitment to providing Scottish communities with high quality infrastructure. To read the full press release, click here.
Water Resources (Scotland) Act
The Water Resources (Scotland) Bill was passed in Parliament on 27th February 2013 and can be viewed at the following link: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/S4_Bills/Water%20Resources%20(Scotland)%20Bill/b15bs4-aspassed.pdf
Water Resources (Scotland) Bill - Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment
The Scottish Government has launched the Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA), on Friday 7 September 2012, which sets out the impact of the proposed legislation on businesses and regulated industries.
Read the full BRIA.
Making Scotland a world leading hydro nation - Legislation to protect prized asset
On 28 June 2012, Alex Neil, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment, announced that a new law will ensure Scotland's water has a sustainable future helping to boost our low carbon economy and create jobs.
Read the full news release.
Consultation - Investing in and Paying for your Water Services from 2015
The Scottish Government consultation 'Investing in and Paying for your Water Services 2015' was launched on 19 June 2012 and will run until 11 September 2012.
This engagement paper seeks views on Investing in and Paying for Water Services from 2015. The availability of wholesome drinking water and the safe disposal of wastewater are crucial to public health and a clean environment.
In this paper we consider the investment needs and how customers should pay for the water and wastewater services provided in the period 2015-25. This paper concentrates on the core water and sewerage services provided by Scottish Water to its customers and does not consider in detail any of the issues covered by the Hydro Nation Agenda or the Water Resources (Scotland) Bill.
Read the full consultation document.
Scotland the Hydro Nation Prospectus and Proposals for Legislation - Consultation Responses
Individual responses and a summary of all responses are now available here.
England accepts water help - UK Government to open talks
On 19 June 2012 Alex Neil, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment, recently wrote to the UK Government to offer Scottish assistance on water supply in the long term, if it could be commercial and practically viable.
Read the full news release
Contact us
Water Industry Team
Area 1-H North
Victoria Quay
Edinburgh
EH6 6QQ
Email: waterdivision@scotland.gsi.gov.uk