New research undertaken by Ofwat shows that almost six in ten (59%) customers want their water company to prioritise improving the quality and cleanliness of rivers in England and Wales - even if this were to increase the price of their water bills.
The water sector regulator has published the results of an online survey conducted between 23 March - 1 April to hear the views of customers across England and Wales on river water quality and their understanding of who is responsible for keeping rivers clean.
The report - River Water Quality Report - sets out the findings of survey by Savanta of 1,898 respondents in England and 431 in Wales.
Ofwat said the findings show people's expectations on river water quality, while also highlighting varied levels of awareness about the roles and responsibilities of organisations responsible for monitoring and delivering this.
The report sets out data on:
- People, the environment and water
- River water quality - cost, use, awareness
- Storm overflows - awareness and views
- Organisations – understanding of roles and responsibilities
Respondents were asked to rank, from a list of options, what they think has the most negative impact on the environment. Water pollution (e.g. sewage, microplastics, farm waste) of rivers and seas was chosen by 8% as having the most negative impact - lower than those selecting general waste/litter/fly-tipping (29%), air pollution (14%), and single-use plastics (14%).
Almost three in ten (29%) ranked water pollution as one of the top things having a negative impact on the environment (giving it a 1-3 ranking) with water pollution the number one concern for 11% of participants.
Respondents were also presented with a choice between improving the quality of rivers or keeping bills low. Almost six in ten (59%) wanted their water company to prioritise improving the quality and cleanliness of rivers in England and Wales, even if this were to increase the price of their water bills.
Just under three in ten (29%) wanted companies to keep water bills low, even if this were to have a negative impact on the quality and cleanliness of rivers in England and Wales.
Respondents who were behind on the payment of any bills were significantly more likely to choose keeping water bills low (40%) than those who were not behind on bills (24%). The report says it is likely that the proportion of people behind on household bills will be higher now than at the point the research was conducted due to the subsequent increases in the cost of living.
Ofwat’s separate cost of living research conducted earlier this year shows that 53% of water bill payers predicted they would struggle to pay a utility bill over the coming year.
Other headline findings include:
- Three in ten respondents (29%) ranked water pollution of rivers and seas among the top three things having a negative impact on the environment
- There is a difference between what people think it is safe to do in a river and what they think it should be safe to do
- Three-quarters of respondents (75%) are aware that sewage is sometimes released into rivers and seas – but very few report a good understanding of storm overflows.
Commenting in the report's conclusions on commitments by some of the water companies to to achieve an average of 20 storm overflow spills per year by 2025, Ofwat says:
“These commitments are a clear indication of what the sector can achieve in the short term to tackle harm caused by storm overflows. Storm overflows that are regularly spilling due to unresolved operational problems, including asset configuration, pump failures and power failures, are within companies' gift to resolve now and we expect all companies to address these issues as a priority in line with their legal duties to effectually deal with the contents of sewers.”
Click here to download Ofwat's River Water Quality Report