South Staffordshire Water

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

South Staffordshire Water PLC is a privately-owned water company supplying water to parts of Staffordshire and the West Midlands, England. They are one of only three water companies that are recognised by the industry regulator, OFWAT, as displaying top efficiency (Band A) for both operating costs and capital expenditure.^[1]

1 Supply Area
2 Reservoirs
3 Other Activities
4 Financials
5 History
6 External links
7 References

[edit] Supply Area

The area supplied is to the north and west of Birmingham and includes ^[2]

[edit] Reservoirs

Blithfield

[edit] Other Activities

SSW own a tankered water business, Aqua Direct, whose spring water is the principal ingredient of several well-known soft drinks including Purdeys, Aqua Libre and the flavoured water ranges of ASDA and Somerfield.^[3]

[edit] Financials

In its accounts for the the year ended 31 March 2006, South Staffordshire Water reported turnover of GBP 72.3 million, operating profit of GBP 19.0 million and fixed assets of GBP 156.4 million. The average domestic water bill in the area is GBP 106, the second lowest in England & Wales.^[3]

[edit] History

Timeline^[4]

1853 South Staffordshire Waterworks Company is formed
1858 Opening of the works in Walsall. Wednesbury is the first area supplied
1860 Tipton and West Bromwich receive water supplies
1862 SSWC take over Dudley Waterworks. Netherton and Oldbury receive water supplies
1864 SSWC take over Burton Waterworks
1875 Cannock area supplied
1929 SSWC take over Kinver Waterworks.
1953 Blithfield Reservoir, near Rugeley, is opened by Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the Queen Mother
1962 SSWC take over Tamworth Water Works
1996 Blithfield Education Centre is opened by Bill Oddie