Scottish Water delivered its highest-ever levels of customer satisfaction and invested £627 million in new water and waste water infrastructure during 2016/17, according to its 2016-17 Annual Report and Accounts.
The publicly-owned utility has highlighted increased satisfaction among customers and sustained levels of drinking water quality at customers’ taps of over 99.9% among its key achievements for the year.
The Dunfermline-based water and waste water company serves 2.5 million households and 156,000 businesses premises with 1.35 billion litres of drinking water every day. It also treats 945 million litres of waste water daily and returns it safely to the environment. Its household charges are among the lowest in the UK at less than £1-per day on average, with average annual household charges remaining £38 below the average bill in England and Wales.
At the same time Scottish Water invested £627 million on the nation’s water and waste water infrastructure. It plans to deliver over £3.5 billion of capital investment in total in the six-year period from 2015 to 2021, making it one of the biggest infrastructure investors in Scotland.
Scottish Water, which maintains almost 62,000 miles of water and sewer pipes and runs more than 2000 water and waste water treatment works, directly employs 4,000 people and another 2,000 through partners working on its investment programme
One of the utility’s highest-profile projects is the £100 million Shieldhall Tunnel in Glasgow’s south side which is due for completion later this year. The tunnel will improve water quality in the River Clyde and reduce the risk of flooding.
Scottish Water Chief Executive Douglas Millican said:
“The past year has been another good year for Scottish Water, delivering increased levels of customer satisfaction, sustained high levels of drinking water quality and continued value for money for our customers.
“This year also saw a step-change in the pace of delivery of our capital investment programme which, as well as improving service levels and protecting Scotland’s natural environment, will also help to support new development and underpin future economic growth.
“Our investment programme is also creating employment through our three new capital alliance partners supported by a framework of local contractors throughout the country”.
The annual report is also highlighting the Which? Consumer Insight Report, published in December, which concluded the water industry, led by Scottish Water working in collaboration with partners and suppliers, was the most trusted sector by consumers in Scotland.
Click here to read the Report and Accounts in full
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