Annual Report 2015
As the UK water industry’s landscape changes, South Staffs
Water remains committed to driving the delivery of exceptional
customer service, high quality water and affordable bills.
South Staffs Water is a water only
company, supplying around 1.6 million
customers in the South Staffordshire
and Cambridge regions. The business
bills customers for sewerage services
on behalf of both Severn Trent Water
and Anglian Water Services.
A period of change
This has been a year of challenge and
change, during which the business
has maintained its firm focus on
delivering both high quality service
and value for money.
In December the business received
its Final Determination from Ofwat,
representing the culmination of
the regulatory price review process
(PR14) for the period 2015-2020. This
will see bills reduce by 4% in real
terms over the five year period with
customers continuing to enjoy the
benefits of one of the lowest bills in
the industry. Levels of service in a
number of areas will also increase in
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addition to the business’ commitment
to the community and affordability
assistance for customers in need. In
order to provide these important
benefits to customers the business
has, during the course of the year,
had to make a number of difficult
decisions as we sought to align our
costs and performance with the new
benchmark. These changes have
included a reduction in manpower,
the closure of the defined benefit
pension scheme to future accrual as
well as a variety of other changes to
improve efficiency.
We are especially grateful for the
dedication of our staff as they have
continued to seamlessly provide the
vital 24/7 service to our 1.6 million
customers in South Staffordshire
and Cambridge throughout these
challenging times.
During the year to 31 December
2014, the Cambridge region met
the required drinking water quality
standard on 100% of all tests carried
out, with the South Staffs region
achieving a compliance rate of
99.98%. It has though become clear
that the water quality performance
at Seedy Mill treatment works
requires investment. The business
is committed to responding to the
Drinking Water Inspectorate’s (DWI)
legitimate criticisms about Seedy
Mill and has already put in place a
number of tactical mitigating actions
ahead of agreeing a more strategic
investment with the DWI which will
restore the asset’s performance to
the expected level and remove any
immediate risk of quality failures.
Similar investment is being actively
considered in relation to Hampton
Loade treatment works. We will work
tirelessly to ensure customer interests
continue to be protected in this key
area of our operation.