Last reviewed: 6.5.2011 - 9.57am
We seek to work collaboratively with all of our regulators to maintain our good performance and compliance record.
Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI)
We are independently regulated, along with all other water companies in England and Wales, by the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI).
The DWI acts on behalf of the Secretary of State for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the National Assembly for Wales.
Its role is to assess the wholesomeness of water supplies. It also undertakes technical audits of water suppliers to examine all aspects of water quality, treatment and monitoring.
In addition, the DWI requires each water supplier to submit quality data on a monthly basis for scrutiny.
Where necessary, the DWI can require a company to implement schemes to improve water quality, and will monitor their progress.
Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat)
The Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat) is the economic regulator of the water and sewerage industry in England and Wales.
Ofwat acts independently from the Government and aims to provide consumers with value for money.
Ofwat establish the limit on how much individual water companies can charge their customers, and aims to protect the standard of service customers receive from their supplier.
Environment Agency (EA)
The Environment Agency (EA) seeks to maintain and improve the quality of 'raw' water in England and Wales, and is responsible for issuing water companies with abstraction licences.
The EA is concerned with the quality of fresh surface and underground water, marine and estuarial waters, and strives to prevent/reduce the threat of water contamination.
Natural England
We work closely with Natural England on biodiversity initiatives and over the management of the many Sites of Special Scientific Interest that we own.
We also seek their advice over wildlife issues connected with our capital investment programme, for example when working to avoid adverse impacts on protected species and their habitats.
English Heritage
We consult English Heritage on many of our capital investment projects in London and for advice when working in or near Scheduled Monuments and Registered Historic Parks and Gardens across the Thames Valley.
Health Protection Agency (HPA)
We work in partnership with the Health Protection Agency (HPA), who provide us support and advice in safeguarding public health.
The HPA contains 39 Health Protection Units (HPUs) which are divided across the country.
We work closely with HPUs when an incident is reported to protect and inform the public, especially vulnerable groups.
Environmental Health Officers (EHOs)
Your local authority is also involved in water quality via its teams of Environmental Health Officers (EHOs).
These teams have local responsibility to the public to ensure many aspects of the environment are not harmful to public health.
Contact your local authority for further details on environmental health issues in your area.
Consumer Council for Water (CCWater)
Customers are represented in the water industry by an independent body called the Consumer Council for Water (CCWater).
CCWater took over from the previous organisation (WaterVoice) in 2005, and acts on behalf of water and sewerage customers in England and Wales.
The Big Map
We're investing nearly £5bn between 2010 and 2015. Explore our interactive map to find out how your region will benefit.
Our five-year plan
Our five-year plan sets out our proposals to maintain and improve our services during the period 2010 to 2015.
Our 25-year plan
Our 25-year plan outlines how we will respond to future challenges, such as climate change, leakage, water efficiency and the delivery of high-quality customer service for the period 2010 to 2035.
