Quality and Standards 3B: 2010-15
The objectives for 2010-15 were specified by Ministers following a robust, stakeholder-led and evidence-based process undertaken on behalf of Ministers by the Quality and Standards Board, detailed research and a full public consultation.
The 2010-15 programme will deliver further improvements to drinking water quality and Scotland's environment. It will continue to ensure that capacity is provided to service new developments and will enable Scottish Water to provide levels of customer service that are amongst the best in the UK. Full details of the requirements are set out in the Ministerial Directions.
While the improvements required for Quality and Standards 3B were originally specified in 2005 and for a four year period, stakeholders and Ministers agreed these should be reviewed prior to the start of the regulatory period. During this review and in the light of experience gained from the delivery of the Quality and Standards 3A programme, it was agreed that:
- To improve levels of efficiency and effectiveness of delivery, the length of the regulatory period should be extended to cover five years rather than four;
- New objectives should be added to reflect the requirements of the Climate Change and Flood Management Acts; and
- The objectives should reflect the current measures and practices used by the industry - for example, Overall Performance Assessment.
As a whole, these changes did not alter overall objectives for the industry as set out in 2005.
In 2009, the Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS) determined that, based on the requirements set out in the Ministerial Directions and associated Technical Expression, the investment programme should, in 2007-08 prices, cost no more than £2.54 billion. The Final Determination may be viewed on WICS's website.
Information on Scottish Water's progress in delivering Ministers' Objectives can be viewed in the Outputs Monitoring Group's (OMG) quarterly reports.
Amendments to the programme
From time to time, the Ministerial Directions will be amended to reflect the emergence of new information. This new information emerges from many on-going studies into the nature of drainage catchments, for example in Glasgow, or is the consequence of new or amended legislation. Amended directions will be shown below.
The recent amendment to the Quality and Services 3B Directions can be seen here.
The Quality and Services 3B Technical Expression 2010 Directions can be seen here.