The Water industry Forum has published a new paper setting out the questions the water industry should ask of Catchment System Operator model developers to assist them in formulating proposals.

Led by the Water Industry Forum (WIF), eight water companies and Mott MacDonald have worked together to help progress the development of the ‘system operator’ concept as set out in Defra’s 25-year Environmental Plan. 

Defra’s 25 Year Environment Plan introduces the concept of a catchment system operator (CaSO) which will be ‘responsible for the strategic management of natural capital’.

The culmination of this work is the collective development of a checklist publication across five thematic areas - ‘Catchment System Operator – A Checklist for Model Developers and Policy Makers’. 

It is intended that CaSOs will more effectively deliver the aims of the plan by coordinating the activities of multiple organisations across a discrete geographic area.

As significant investors in natural capital, WIF’s water company partners wanted to collectively help influence the development of the CaSO concept.  The checklist highlights matters of interest to water companies which would be affected by any proposals for a CaSO, and sets out the type of questions the water industry would need to ask of model developers and policymakers to help them in developing and presenting proposals.

Anglian Water’s Director of Water Recycling, Paul Gibbs, commented:

 'One of Anglian Water's long-term objectives is to work with others to significantly improve the ecological quality of our catchments. Done well, a Catchment System Operator could deliver benefits to the environment and for our customers more effectively than how catchments are currently regulated. But there are also risks, so we're delighted to work with other water companies, Mott Macdonald and the Water Industry Forum to produce this checklist and contribute to the debate.'

The Water Industry Forum membership comprises around 600 organisations including government, regulators, regional water companies, contractors, consultants, manufacturers, research organisations, third sector organisations and investors.

Click here to download the checklist paper