Commentary Part 1.Water Industry General duties of the Water Services Regulation Authority Section 22: Primary duty to secure resilience
134.This section amends section 2 of the WIA which sets out “general duties with respect to the water industry”. These duties apply both to the Secretary of State and the Welsh Ministers and to Ofwat in the exercise of their relevant regulatory responsibilities. This section introduces a new duty, which is to further the resilience objective.
135.Subsection (2DA)(a) explains that the resilience objective is to secure the long-term resilience of water supply and sewerage systems. It refers specifically to environmental pressures, population growth and changes in consumer behaviour`.
136.Subsection (2DA)(b) explains that Ofwat will need to ensure that undertakers take action to make water and sewerage services to consumers resilient for the long term.
137.The section states that the action taken to secure resilience can include promoting long-term planning and appropriate investment, increasing efficiency in the use of water, and the use of a full range of appropriate measures to manage water resources. Appropriate measures would include action to reduce consumer demand and to ensure the effective management of water resources within the water environment.
138.Subsection (2DB)(a) defines supply systems by reference to the new section 17B while subsection (2DB)(b) defines sewerage systems.