| Scotland: Water and Sanitation | ||
|---|---|---|
| Data | ||
| Water coverage (broad definition) | 100% | |
| Sanitation coverage (broad definition) | 100% | |
| Continuity of supply (%) | 100% | |
| Average urban water use (l/c/d) | n/a | |
| Average urban domestic water and sewer bill | £26 per month [1] | |
| Share of household metering | n/a | |
| Non-revenue water | 924 Megaliter/day (2007-08) (% n/a) | |
| Share of collected wastewater treated | high | |
| Annual investment in WSS | £413 million in 2006-07 (about £80 per capita) | |
| Share of self-financing by utilities | High | |
| Share of tax-financing | Low | |
| Share of external financing | 0% | |
| Institutions | ||
| Decentralization to municipalities | No | |
| National water and sanitation company | Scottish Water | |
| Water and sanitation regulator | Water Industry Commission for Scotland | |
| Responsibility for policy setting | ||
| Sector law | None | |
| Number of service providers | 1 | |
Public water supply and sanitation in Scotland is characterized by universal access and generally good service quality. Water and sewerage services are provided by a single public company, Scottish Water. The economic water industry regulator is the Water Industry Commission for Scotland. It "promotes the interests of water and sewerage customers in Scotland by making sure that householders and businesses receive a high-quality service and value for money by setting prices, monitoring Scottish Water’s performance and facilitating competition in the water industry". The environmental regulator is the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. Drinking water standards and wastewater discharge standards are determined by the EU (see EU water policy).
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The Water Commission measures the service quality of Scottish Water using an overall performance assessment (OPA) index, which takes into account unplanned supply interruptions, pressure, drinking water quality, responses to written complaints, ease of telephone contact, sewer floodings, sewage treatment works compliance and leakage. While Scottish Water's OPA score improved from 162 in 2003-2004 to 232 in 2006-2007, it remained below the average of 294 for water companies in England and Wales in 2006-2007.[2]
Scottish Water operates and maintains over 47,000 kilometres of water pipes, 49,000 kilometres of sewer pipes, 1963 waste water treatment works (including 1231 septic tanks) and 319 water treatment works plus pumping stations, sludge treatment centres, reservoirs.[3]
In the past, twelve Regional and Island Councils (local authorities) were responsible for water supply in Scotland, alongside other local services. Unlike in England and Wales, the assets of the industry were owned by local governments, many of which were not governed by the Conservative Party at the time of the water privatization in England and Wales. As a consequence, water and sanitation service provision in Scotland remained public.
Subsequently, the Regional and Island Councils were merged into three regional public service providers. In 2002 the Scottish Parliament passed the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 merging the three providers into a single one, Scottish Water. In 2005 it passed the Water Services etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 allowing competition for "retail services" - defined as metering, billing and customer service - to business customers beginning in 2008, while wholesale services - defined as providing water and removing wastewater - remain a public monopoly.[4]
Tariffs According to Scottish Water, the charge for the average household bill in Scotland in 2008/09 (£310) is lower than the average household bill in England and Wales (£330).[1]
Investments In 2006/07 Scottish Water invested £413 million in its infrastructure, equivalent to about £80 per capita.[5] According to the regulator, its planned investments per property for 2006-2010 are much larger than those of English water companies of the same size.[6]
Efficiency In 2007 operating costs of Scottish Water were 40% lower than those of the three former water authorities in 2002. Its customer service is also considerably better. According to the regulator, Scottish Water's achievement is "unprecedented in the UK water industry". [7] The level of leakage at Scottish Water has declined from 1104 Megalitres (Ml)/day in 2005-2006 to 924 Ml/day in 2007-08. However, the regulator considers this level to be higher than the economic level of leakage. Scottish Water has also failed the annual regulatory targets for the reduction of leakage.[6]
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