County leaders are worried moves to exert more democratic control over private sector water companies will come too late to avert more pollution incidents and water supply crises causing huge environmental and economic damage to Devon.
Devon is already officially in serious drought and last week a joint letter from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Environment Agency and industry regulator Ofwat revealed South West Water had been warned for seven years in a row it was endangering security of supply by missing its own forecasts on reducing leakage.
Environment Secretary Angela Eagle has now written to Devon County Council pledging local authorities and a possible future Mayor of Devon will be part of a regional committee with power to shape South West Water’s future investment decisions.
She wrote: “The current system has led to disjointed investment decisions, often poor value for money which do not meet the needs of communities. That must change.
“That's why, for the first time since privatisation, investment decisions through the next investment period will be shaped much more directly by the priorities of local communities, regional leaders and those who understand the needs of places best.”
At a meeting of Devon County Council’s Cabinet on Tuesday, Deputy Council Leader Paul Arnott said: “South West Water has got to up their game right now on leakage. The way they plan their finances in five year chunks does not help when we are already in this situation.
“We are making decisions on planning and housing right now when we have real doubts whether the sewage and water supply infrastructure will be there or not.
“It’s good Angela Eagle says communities will have influence over future decision-making but setting up these committees is maybe a year away and we won’t see what they can do in practice for perhaps two years. As ever I’m worried this will be fudged somehow which is why I intend to be like an eagle on this every step of the way.
“We simply cannot afford the devastating potential losses to tourism and our whole economy caused by pollution or the possibility of supplies being turned off.”
Council Chief Executive Donna Manson revealed 60 organisations across Devon including district councils and emergency services have already been planning for the possibility of Stage 4 severe drought restrictions which could see water supplies to households and businesses cut off on a rota basis.
She has also attended Whitehall meetings with Ministers on emergency planning for the increased risk of drought and wildfires in areas most affected by climate change.
Cabinet member for Adults Services, County Councillor for Adults Services Richard Keeling said: “I have very real concerns about what planning for cut-offs would actually mean. I’m worried about all our care homes and the 33,000 vulnerable people we have in our care whom we would have to supply with water.”
At the Cabinet meeting, councillors agreed to promote water conservation measures and encourage vulnerable customers with medical or mobility needs to join South West Water’s Priority Services Register, which would ensure home deliveries of bottled water even if supplies of tap water were cut off by drought restrictions.
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Devon Remembers
