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Ofwat (The Water Services Regulation Authority) is a non-ministerial government department. We are responsible for making sure that the water industry in England and Wales provides customers with a good quality and efficient service at a fair price. We protect consumers, promote value and safeguard the future.
Our vision
Our vision is for a water industry that delivers a world-class service, representing best value to customers now and in the future.
Our mission
Our mission is to regulate in a way that provides incentives and encourages the companies to achieve a world-class service in terms of quality and value for customers in England and Wales.
Water regulation - what is it all about?
The Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat) is the economic regulator of the water and sewerage industry in England and Wales. Our role is to seek value for consumers. Before 1 April 2006 our functions rested with the Director General of Water Services. The framework for the changeover was outlined in the Water Act 2003. It provides a similar structure to other economic regulators.
The Board includes the Chairman, a Chief Executive, two executive and four non-executive directors. The Board is responsible for deciding how we carry out our functions and effectively meet our statutory requirements. There is a majority of non-executive members.
We make our decisions independently of the Government, but we work closely with:
- the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Welsh Assembly Government;
- the Consumer Council for Water (CCWater), which is an independent organisation that represents customers' interests and deals with your complaints;
- the Drinking Water Inspectorate, which sets standards for the quality of drinking water;
- the Environment Agency, which regulates and enforces water abstraction consents and quality standards in inland, estuarial and coastal waters; and
- Natural England and the Countryside Council for Wales, on environmental issues.
We do this by:
- setting limits on what companies can charge you;
- ensuring companies are able to carry out their responsibilities under the Water Industry Act 1991 as updated by section 39 of the Water Act 2003;
- protecting the standard of service you receive;
- encouraging companies to be more efficient;
- meeting the principles of sustainable development; and
- helping to encourage competition where appropriate.
We also make comparisons between the companies to help raise the standards of those that need to improve.
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