No reason why Yorkshire Water cannot become an exemplar to others
Water pollution has reached an unacceptable level and the reaction of the water industry has been nothing short of a disgrace. Instead of accepting and fixing their failings, water companies have sought to carry on trashing the environment whilst expecting the consumer to pay more for what is clearly an unacceptable service.
Failures of the water industry have been repeatedly highlighted. We have reached a point where it cannot get any worse.
What is required now is for the gauntlet to be thrown to the likes of Yorkshire Water, challenging them to deliver much needed, rapid improvements.
Yorkshire Water is embarking on its largest ever environmental investment. Putting in £8.3bn into the network, to improve infrastructure and fix the issues that have blighted this region.
Some good faith should be extended to the management at Yorkshire Water for them to turn things around.
Yorkshire Water needs to renew its contract with the people of the county in a visible and meaningful way.
The company must step up now and instead of constantly proffering excuses, it needs to start delivering. There’s no reason why it cannot become a good example to others.
Plans to make water companies publish annual pollution reduction plans, with a failure to do so becoming a criminal offence, are to be welcomed.
Pollution Incident Reduction Plans (PIRPs) were previously voluntary, with only some water companies electing to produce and deliver them, Yorkshire Water being one of them.
It is clear that regulation across the sector needs to be tightened so that the public can have confidence that the environment won’t suffer as it has done in recent years.