Roch Cheroux took over as Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water Chief Executive in January. In this opinion piece, he lays out his approach to drawing up a new strategy to protect the nation's environment.
Wales's rivers, lakes and coastline are part of what makes the country special. Protecting and improving them is an ambition that brings people together – and one that is central to the future being built at Welsh Water.
Record investment and customer input
There is an opportunity to make lasting improvements: healthier waters, more resilient services and communities better prepared for a changing climate. Turning that opportunity into reality is shaping both the investments being made today and the plans for the next 25 years.
Between 2025 and 2030, Welsh Water is investing a record £2.5 billion in environmental improvements, including £889 million to reduce the impact of storm overflows. That investment will help strengthen infrastructure, tackle the overflows that cause the greatest harm and develop new ways of working with nature.
More than 6,000 people have already shared their views as Welsh Water develops its new long-term strategy. They want reliable drinking water, effective wastewater services and visible improvements to the environment. They expect the company to maintain its assets properly, invest before problems occur and make every pound count.
Addressing storm overflows and pollution
As a company with no shareholders, the focus is on delivering for the customers and communities served, today and for generations to come. Confidence in the plans must be earned through results. Environmental performance needs to improve, and customers rightly expect to see sustained progress.
Much of Wales's sewer network carries both wastewater from homes and businesses and rainwater from roofs, roads and other hard surfaces. During very wet weather, the volume entering those sewers can exceed their capacity. Storm overflows provide a release point, helping prevent sewage backing up into homes, schools and businesses.
Their role in protecting properties does not remove the need to reduce their environmental impact. That requires investment in the network, effective maintenance and measures to keep more rainwater out of sewers in the first place. Green spaces, wetlands and more sustainable drainage can help slow and absorb rainfall, reducing pressure on sewers while creating better places for people and wildlife.
There is also a need to distinguish between storm overflow operation and pollution caused by failures in assets or operations. Where something goes wrong, the responsibility is to respond quickly, address the cause and prevent it happening again.
Working across catchments and planning for the future
Healthier rivers and seas also depend on coordinated action across the wider catchment. Agricultural runoff, urban drainage, industrial discharges, misconnected drains and poorly maintained septic tanks can all affect water quality. Welsh Water must fulfil its responsibilities while working with others to achieve improvements that none can deliver alone.
The changes being considered to water regulation offer an opportunity to support that shared effort. Clear priorities, long-term planning and closer coordination between organisations can help investment deliver more for customers and the environment.
The new strategy will set out how Welsh Water intends to contribute over the next quarter of a century. It will guide decisions about investment, affordability and resilience, while keeping the company focused on the everyday services customers depend on. Customers can take part in the consultation by visiting the company's website for its strategy for the future.
