Britain's biggest water companies have today announced that they do not intend to use the Government’s coronavirus job retention scheme to furlough any of their employees.

The Government has designated water company employees as key workers during the Covid-19 pandemic, as they are carrying out essential work to maintain and repair the country’s water and sewerage systems.

With thousands of staff carrying out vital work, the water companies wanted to reassure their employees and customers that they would be supporting their workforce through the crisis and are therefore not intending to apply for support under the Government’s furlough scheme.

Water companies across England have been reorganising their operations in recent weeks to ensure that they continue to maintain water and sanitation services to millions of families and businesses during the crisis. In many cases, customer contact centres have been overhauled to allow staff to work from home.

While Government social distancing rules mean water company staff are no longer entering customers’ homes to carry out routine work, workers wearing appropriate personal protection equipment (PPE) can still carry out emergency repairs if necessary. Thousands of workers are also carrying out essential maintenance and repair work on the water and sewerage network, a key part of the sectors’ role in protecting public health.

Companies are offering a wide array of support to customers who are facing financial difficulties as a result of the crisis. Water companies are also big local employers with large supply chains and have been taking steps to support their network of suppliers and wider regional economies.

The companies that have joined together to announce that they have no intention of using the Government’s furlough scheme include: Yorkshire Water, United Utilities, Severn Trent, South West Water, Anglian Water, Thames Water, Northumbrian Water, Wessex Water, Scottish Water and Welsh Water.