The water watchdog CCW has said it plans to unite the industry under a campaign to raise society’s awareness of the value of water and help people understand how their behaviour impacts the water environment.
As part of the consumer group’s strategy for 2022-23, CCW will conduct a global analysis of previous water initiatives from around the world and use insight to create an action plan, with the industry, to be implemented from 2023.
Other priorities for the coming year include progressing work on addressing water poverty following the independent review into affordability commissioned by government last year. The group also intends to increase awareness of the financial support available to low-income households by more than 10%.
For the non-household sector, CCW wants to see complaints reduced by 10% by March 2023 and ensure customers are better informed about payment options for their water bill. It said it would work with retailers to return any credit owed to business customers on an annual basis by April next year.
The complaints process will be sped up with an initial response promised within two days, which CCW said it would achieve through training to resolve issues on first contact.
The group will continue its campaigns to end water poverty and end internal sewer flooding that began last year. Furthermore it will strengthen the protections available for business customers in the event of retailer failure.
Last year CCW made a series of recommendations as part of its independent affordability review, which included proposing a single social tariff to assist with water bills. It plans to deliver 80% of the recommendations by 2025 as a step to eradicate water poverty by 2030.
CCW has opened a consultation on its forward looking work that will run to 15 February before the strategy goes live from April.