Bristol Water has become the first water company in the UK water sector to publish a Social Contract, following over a year of planning, discussion and conversations with the people of the West Country. 

The social contract forms an important part of the water company’s business plan, Bristol Water For All, submitted to Ofwat back in September.

Bristol Water views the social contract as a framework to help it to continue delivering societal benefits and also as a way it can be held to account by local people for how it delivers its actions.

The utility says this “goes way beyond the basic requirement of competitive markets, regulation, legislation and corporate social responsibility.”

According to Bristol Water, the social contract will ensure that board level decisions focus on wider societal impacts. The company has also introduced a framework that allows continued participation by local communities in major decisions to understand their evolving needs beyond waterthrough the Bristol Water Challenge Panel, the customer forum and youth board.

Mel Karam, CEO, Bristol Water commented:

“This social contract is a massive step forward for us as a company but also for the industry. It reflects our purpose to have a positive impact for society in what we do, building trust beyond the delivery of pure and reliable water supplies.”

“The Social Contract means the people of the West Country can input into what we do, track what we do, and hold us to account for what we do, and how we deliver it.”

As well as the specific promises made in the social contract, the water company said it is also keen to establish a discussion in the communities it serves and beyond. Bristol Water’s new blog ‘The Evolution of the social contract’ will be launched later this week.