Planned Sewage and Water Work Mapped

Thames Water's Director of Strategy and Regulation Peter Antolik said "As most of the investment we're looking for will be paid for by our customers, we think it's only fair that we make it easy for them to find out how their money is likely to be spent. Now information, which in days gone by would have been hidden in lengthy reports, is only a click away.”

Customers will be able to see what projects are proposed for their area, but as and when plans are approved by Ofwat, they will also be able to see when work begins and track its progress.

Thames Water is proposing increased levels of investment to protect thousands of homes from the threat of sewer flooding; to replace thousands of kilometres of ageing Victorian water mains in London, which are prone to leaks and bursts; and to safeguard future water supplies for customers. The plans were drawn up after the company's most comprehensive public consultation and reflect customers' concerns and priorities. If the plans are approved, Londoners could expect the following service improvements over the next five-year period:
• Fewer instances of sewer flooding through the delivery of alleviation schemes that would take more than 450 London homes off the flood risk register
• An increase of water meters on domestic properties from 20 per cent to 51 per cent, meaning fairer water bills for customers; coupled with an increase in information for customers on saving water and money

Improvements to water quality in the River Thames and River Lee through
• The London Tideway Tunnels project to capture sewage that overflows from the capitals' sewers into the rivers, and
• Programmes to upgrade London's major sewage treatment works by increasing treatment standards and ensuring the works can accommodate future population growth
• A more resilient sewage treatment and drinking water system through flood protection work for London treatment works
• A more reliable water supply with work beginning on the construction of the Upper Thames Reservoir, if approvals are received, and by continuing the programme of Victorian mains replacement to renew the_ oldest and leakiest pipes across London

A more reliable and effective drainage system through the expansion of the sewer network in line with London's predicted population increases.
"While this is a large and ambitious investment programme, we are determined to keep bills affordable," Peter said. "By 2015, on average, customers will still be paying less than GBP1 a day for all their water and wastewater needs, which represents excellent value for money. "We have proposed measures to help protect our most vulnerable customers and plan to set up a GBP5million independent charitable trust, financed from the company's profits, to help relieve water debts for those customers in hardship. We also want to offer a discounted tariff for the five per cent of our customers least able to pay their bills.”

Thames Water will submit its final Business Plan to Ofwat in April 2009. Ofwat will make its final decision on the plan in November 2009.