Martin Baggs told Utility Week the industry must “look forward” to ensure it is spending money in the areas that it needs to be, and that it is “delivering best value”.
Asked whether he saw any risks to environmental policy from leaving the European Union, Baggs said he did not see it as a “big area for debate”.
“You could draw up a big list of risks around the outside of the sector,” he said. “But when you look at our environmental framework, it has taken years and years to develop and it has done a huge amount of good.
“I wouldn’t say you need to throw it all out or it all needs to change. It has become part of the way we work. We as a sector have probably got more focus on the environment than we’ve ever had in the past, why would we want to go backwards?”
He said there was “more of a case in terms of looking forward” and prioritising areas where investment should be made.
“There have been some huge achievements over recent years, for example a huge amount of investment has been made in cleaning up the beaches and the rivers,” he added. “Now, there is a forward-looking debate in terms of where our priorities are and where the money is best spent.”
Baggs left Thames Water last month, after announcing his intention to do so in November last year. He has been succeeded by former telecoms boss Steve Robertson.
The full interview with Martin Baggs will be in the issue of Friday 21 October