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News from South West Water Issue 32, Summer 2020 Thank you for helping us to keep services continuing despite the pandemic Page 2 A New Deal Save 5 litres All the right words What it means Play your part, Win a £100 shopping for you be water smart voucher Page 4-5 Page 6 Page 7
Waterlevel issue 32 Waterlevel issue 32 Susan A big year for Davy Pennon Group Chief Executive Welcomes you to the Summer Reducing It’s been a big year for South West 2020 edition of Waterlevel. Water’s parent company, Pennon Group. In July, the FTSE 100-listed Group, which is based in Exeter, completed pollutions Welcome to the first edition of Waterlevel for our new 2020-25 business the sale of Viridor – one of the UK’s biggest recycling companies – and plan. As well as updates on our plans and progress, plus tips to help you announced it would be focused solely on excellence in water and wastewater save water and money, this issue summarises our New Deal plan, which going forward. includes a unique scheme called WaterShare+. To coincide with the changes, Pennon’s Chairman and CEO Sir John Parker As part of WaterShare+, we’ll soon be sharing £20 million of cost and Chris Loughlin decided they would stand down, with Gill Rider and Susan savings achieved during our regulated 2015-20 plan. One million eligible Spot it, Davy (previously Chief Financial Officer) taking their places. customers will be contacted with details about the rebate. As well as sharing financial benefits if we beat tough targets, the scheme The changes meant Pennon became the second ever FTSE 100 company to Our 2020-25 business plan set out our ambitious have a Chairwoman and a female Chief Executive simultaneously, with Susan enables you to have more control in what we do and how we do it. targets for reducing pollution incidents. report it as the seventh FTSE 100 female Chief Executive. That’s not something you hear other utilities doing very often, if ever. While we have significantly improved our performance in some key areas, In other news for Pennon, the Group once again secured the Fair Tax Mark – We’re proud to have pioneered this approach in the water industry. the independent certification which recognises those organisations which pay particularly in reducing the most serious pollutions, we know we have more to It’s the right and responsible thing to do. the right amount of tax, in the right way. do to tackle minor, less serious pollutions. One of the key areas that we want to improve is around pollution incidents that If you spot anything you think could be pollution, happen on the network of sewers that move wastewater from customers’ please call our 24-hour services helpline on homes to our treatment works. As our network is spread over a large and often 0344 346 2020 or report it on our rural area, it can be a challenge to identify and respond quickly enough to website southwestwater.co.uk/pollution Keeping potential pollution. To help us improve, we’ve established a dedicated task force to focus on pollutions and employed more operators to carry out sewer cleansing and Major sewer upgrade pumping station inspections and maintenance. When pollutions happen, as going well as responding quickly to minimise any impact on the environment, we are looking very carefully at what caused them and what we can do to prevent them happening again. for Carbis Bay during You can play your part by helping to prevent sewer blockages, which cause about a fifth of all minor, less serious pollution incidents. Only flush the 3Ps – pee, paper and poo – down the loo and dispose of cooking fat, oil, grease and Earlier this year we completed a major food waste in the bin not the sink. scheme to upgrade sections of sewer in Isles of Scilly Covid-19 You can read the plan at southwestwater.co.uk/newdeal Carbis Bay, Cornwall, to improve the service to residents and businesses. The Coronavirus crisis has New research programme The project involved upgrading sections of sewer along St Ives Road and Longstone Hill by relining the existing pipe with four layers of tested and affected us all. We have teamed up with the University of Exeter to recycled, environmentally friendly felt impregnated with resin. On 1 April 2020, South West Water became launch a new collaborative research programme. Preparatory work carried out in late 2019 provided more detailed We’ve managed to keep our essential services going due to the fantastic surveys of the sewers than had previously been available, and the appointed water and wastewater efforts of our frontline key workers, some of whom are pictured on the front cover, as well as those who have adjusted to home working. A big Designed to solve some of the most pressing global challenges of our time, the Centre for Resilience in Environment, Water and Waste determined that some sections that were originally planned to be upgraded were not in a condition that required renewal or relining. company for the Isles of Scilly. shout out to you too, for respecting social distancing and recognising (CREWW) will research and develop solutions to some of the biggest environmental and operational challenges in the water sector. Using this new knowledge – the value of what we do as we’ve gone about our work. It’s greatly This means that South West Water now has responsibility for the islands’ and following feedback from appreciated. There are five areas of research: clean drinking water; the safe treatment existing water and wastewater infrastructure, formerly owned by the Council residents – we focused on relining of the Isles of Scilly, the Duchy of Cornwall and the Tresco Estate. We know it’s been, and remains, a particularly tough time for many of and disposal of wastewater; predicting and preventing pollution; water only the most essential sections our customers. We reached out with support and more than 20,000 of supply resilience; and protecting the water supply network. of sewer. This reduced the period We are also responsible for sending bills, reading meters and customer you registered for extra help and informed us of your circumstances. If of disruption for residents and services on the islands. We look forward to working closely with the island We will be looking at how we can tackle the challenges of population you’re struggling to pay a bill, please do let us know. Support is available growth, climate change and other issues such as emerging pollutants. businesses, requiring shorter road community as we invest to ensure resilience in the services we provide. and we’re happy to help in any way we can. closures than originally planned and This is the first time island residents will have received a copy CREWW will see geographers, biologists, psychologists, engineers and enabled us to complete the scheme To register for assistance, please visit: economists, in addition to behavioural scientists, robotics experts, three weeks ahead of schedule. of Waterlevel – welcome, and we hope you enjoy it! southwestwater.co.uk/coronavirus mathematicians and other academics, brought together with our own experts to work together to find new ways of solving these challenges. 2 3
Waterlevel issue 32 We also • Address water poverty by making bills more affordable for all • Provide outstanding customer service pledge to: • Deliver our promises, • Deliver environmental supporting the regional leadership economy and our communities A New Deal A key feature of our New Deal is Our unique scheme, which shares our success with you and gives you a greater say in our business, has two main parts: 1. Sharing our success 2. A greater say How we will do it Our Business Plan for One million South West Water and • W aterShare+ panel meetings in public every It’s not just about what we’re doing, but also Highlights include: Bournemouth Water customers will each three months how we’re doing it. receive a £20 rebate from a pot of £20 million 2020-25 and what it of cost savings achieved by South West Water - Independent Chair and panel • We will operate in your best interests in our last business plan, from 2015-2020. Our - Hear about plans and progress • W e will ensure strong financial control, sound efficiency means you benefit. means for you • A unique scheme which • W orking together to administration, good governance and take a - Ask the panel and SWW directors questions shares our success with you reduce how much water we Each eligible customer will receive a £20 rebate, responsible approach to corporation tax and gives you more of a say use in our homes – saving and you will be able to choose how to receive it • C ustomer Annual General Meeting • W e will maintain transparent and clear either as: (from 2021) in our business money in the short term policies for dividends and executive pay Over the next five years, customers and helping secure water • A credit on your bill*, or which are grounded in the delivery of our • E xtending our services commitments to you. can look forward to lower bills, further to the Isles of Scilly supplies in the future • Shares in our parent company, Exeter-based “The New Deal is about doing References to the customer share offer (the “Offer”) in Pennon the right thing. It ensures that investment and more of a say in • Extra steps to ensure our • E xpansion of flagship catchment management Pennon Group Plc. customers remain at the heart of Group Plc (“Pennon”) on this page are an advertisement and not a prospectus for the purposes of the EU Prospectus The shares choice will require an online how South West Water is run under services are affordable and accessible for all schemes to improve raw application and will be held in a Nominee our service and success, building Regulation. The references to the Offer, which have been prepared by and are the sole responsibility of Pennon, trust through transparency.” our innovative new business plan for • New smarter ways of water quality and natural water storage, and provide Service on behalf of the participating customers. The nominee service will be Susan Davy, South West Water have been approved solely for the purposes of section 21 of the FSMA by Barclays Bank PLC (“Barclays”). Barclays, 2020-25. working, using new protection from flooding administered by Link Market Services Trustees Limited, part of Link Group and Regulated by and Bournemouth Water whose registered address is at 1 Churchill Place, London E14 5HP, is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority technologies to deliver and drought and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Our five-year ‘New Deal’ sees the more for less • R educing the time water the Financial Conduct Authority. Further details will be provided when we write to you. Prudential Regulation Authority. Barclays is acting exclusively for Pennon and for no-one else in relation to or in connection average water and sewerage bill • The biggest environmental supplies are interrupted The value of shares can go down as well as Why are we doing this? with the Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than Pennon for the protections offered to clients of Barclays and improvement programme for to your homes is not providing, and will not provide, advice in relation to the falling by 11% in real terms, with the 15 years up and you may not get back the original investment. We have done this because you, our customers, Offer or any related matter. • Reducing the number of told us that you want more of a say in the average bill in 2025 being lower than • Reducing the amount of discolouration, taste and Eligible customers will receive an email or business and that investors shouldn’t be the Customers should not elect to acquire Pennon shares in the Offer except on the basis of the information contained it was in 2010. water lost through leaks smell contacts letter with details about the rebate and how to register your choice during September. only ones who benefit when the business performs well. We pioneered WaterShare, in the prospectus in its final form to be published by Pennon in due course. Copies of the prospectus will, and bursts by at least 15%, an earlier success-sharing scheme, in 2014. following publication, be available on Pennon’s website. • Investing in bathing water Shaped by our biggest ever having already cut leaks by quality improvements This rebate does not apply to new customers in WaterShare+ is a new, improved version. This advertisement does not constitute an offer or 50% and having always met the Isles of Scilly because the cost saving was recommendation concerning the Pennon shares. consultation with customers, the plan our targets • Reducing sewer flooding achieved in 2015-20, before the Isles of Scilly We believe it’s only right that, if we outperform The Nominee Service is provided by Link Group which is our regulated business plan, you should share in was fast-tracked for approval by events that affect homes became part of South West Water’s service area. However, scheme benefits could apply in any financial benefits. a trading name of Link Market Services Trustees Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct and businesses Ofwat, the water industry Regulator. If the future if we outperform our current 2020-25 business plan. WaterShare+ reflects a new kind of water Authority. Registered office: The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU. Registered in England and we outperform, our customers benefit. Visit: southwestwater.co.uk/newdeal * Some customers who pay by direct debit will have the company, closer to the customers and communities we serve. Wales No. 2729260. For further information, including the legal and regulatory option to have £20 refunded to their bank account. status of this company, visit www.linkassetservices.com/legal-and-regulatory-status 4 southwestwater.co.uk/watershareplus 5
Waterlevel issue 32 Sign up for Could you save MyAccount All the right words 5 litres? With MyAccount you can: • View your bills and pay them securely • Sign up for paperless billing • Keep your account details up to date • Manage your payment plans Complete the W S T I F E N E B H A T S T H E E • Send a meter reading or apply for a water meter wordsearch to win! N G E N W I S K U N F I F R I D C E I N E A N Y T O N A H L K A D E Sign up at N G N I H T A B V Q T I V A S T F southwestwater.co.uk/myaccount First prize is a £100 High Street shopping voucher, I T V A K E A I U I T E G N R S A with two runner-up prizes of a £50 voucher each. V R E D A S R A N U Y N B E E A S Congratulations to the winners How to enter O E S A Y O L U L O I I A I D T N Take the of the wordsearch in issue 31 of Waterlevel. Entry to the competition is managed by South West Water. R P G I T M O M N T I M M O L R U R G D O M T L S D U R U C E G R E Come rain or shine, There is no entry fee. hassle out Top prize went to Mrs Gwen Cleverdon of Crediton, and the South West Water will notify the M O E Y O P S A I E L B R U I U L saving tap water makes sense. Extra protection of paying runners-up were Dr RH Bruce of Ivybridge and Stephen Oldreive of Totnes. winners by email or phone. We reserve the right to select an alternative winner in the event I T N A N T C E S Y A C H E V T N B I S I S R A A I N W N G O Y I A Small changes in water use, avoiding waste, can Meanwhile, we’re on a mission to achieve a further for Plymouth’s Paying by Direct Debit is easy How to enter Please send your entry to: that we have reasonable grounds for believing that a winner has contravened any of these terms E L L O B R A E D S R O O U F R F C A E N S D A N A A T A F F O B L make a big difference – it’s a win-win for our customers and the environment. Being water smart 15% minimum reduction in leakage by 2025. This is a challenging target and we’ll be investing over £50 water supply because you don’t have to remember to pay your bill – and you can choose Waterlevel Wordsearch, South West Water, Peninsula House, Rydon Lane, Exeter, EX2 7HR. and conditions. If a winner does not respond to R F E G S T I G L N I I E D N O C O E L E F D O G E E R O S O O E D telephone or email contact, we will means you can save money off your water bill, million across South West Water and Bournemouth one of four dates to best suit your protect the environment and make sure there’s Water to help us achieve it. Recruiting more people, We are working in Tamerton circumstances. Payment will be Closing date All entries received by 31 make reasonable repeat attempts to contact them. If they cannot be I Y D P R O T E C T I N G S E A S enough to go around. investing in technology and working with our Foliot, near Plymouth, to build made directly to us from your bank December 2020 will be entered into the free prize draw. contacted within three weeks of the draw date, we reserve the right If every one of our customers saved 5 litres of tap supply chain partnerships are key to our leakage a new pumping station to or building society account, and you will be fully protected by the Direct Selection of winner One winner and two runners-up to select at random a replacement winner. Find all the words and phrases listed below in the grid reduction strategy. (except the ones in brackets - ‘Water’ only appears once). water a day, that would be a saving of nearly 10 protect the water supply Debit Guarantee. will be selected at random from all correct entries on 4 January 2021 Each winner must give consent to publication of their name and The words are all associated with South West Water’s New million litres. Despite the challenges of the Coronavirus pandemic, since April we’ve detected and repaired to Plymouth during How to set up a Direct Debit: at Peninsula House, Rydon Lane, Exeter, EX2 7HR, and in accordance home town in the next edition of Waterlevel. We reserve the right to Deal. When you have finished, read the unused letters in order (left to right, starting on top row). They spell out a Here are some of our top tips from customers over 2,300 leaks, and the average repair time has dry weather. • Online at with these terms and conditions. select an alternative winner in the event that consent is declined. question and an answer. Write them in the spaces under on how they’re going to save 5 litres a day: Prize been nearly 60% quicker than in the previous year. southwestwater.co.uk/directdebit The first eligible entrant selected General the grid. The new pumping station, along with the This is an amazing achievement and recognises • Sign up via MyAccount at random will receive a High By entering the competition you existing pumping station at Lopwell Dam, Street shopping voucher to the agree to be bound by these terms YOU GET A STAKE IMPROVING; I collect the water from the shower and all the hard work and efforts our key workers will transfer water from the River Tavy to • Call 0344 346 1010 value of £100. The next two eligible and conditions. Decisions are HAVE YOUR SAY Protecting (the) Environment tap whilst it is heating up, and use it to and delivery partners have put in under extremely the new Mayflower Water Treatment Works entrants selected at random will final and no correspondence or each receive shopping vouchers discussion will be entered into. REDUCING; Biodiversity water my plants – Charlie Barrett challenging circumstances. at Roborough as needed, making it more to the value of £50. Personal information collected Pollution Sufficient Resources In the last two years, we’ve doubled the number of leak detection staff and significantly increased our resilient to drought. Need Terms and conditions The competition is only open to residents in the UK aged 18 or over from entrants will be used by us solely in connection with Flooding (water) Loss Bathing Quality This investment will ensure we can continue help with I am going to wait until I have a who live in the South West Water the competition and will not be (water) Treatment number of Customer Leakage Technicians. to provide customers in Plymouth and the disclosed to any third party except bigger load for my washing machine. region. Drainage for the purpose of operating the surrounding area with a clean, safe and your bill? I will also be more mindful in the Whilst we’re working around the clock, 365 days All entrants must provide an email Fair Charging (and) address, postal address and/or a competition and fulfilling prizes shower, in order to use less water a year, to reduce leakage and fix pipes as quickly reliable supply of drinking water now and daytime telephone number. where applicable. All entries will Affordable Bills – Linda Hellyer into the future. be securely stored then destroyed as possible, it’s important to note that leaks do, Employees of Pennon Group Plc on 30 April 2021 and no personal Safe Clean Reliable Drinking and will, happen. To minimise disruption and keep If you have difficulties paying companies and their families are Water Despite the additional pressures of not eligible. data will be kept after that date. your bill, don’t worry or struggle in taps flowing for customers, we have recently completing this essential work during the Resilience Using a water butt for my plants and silence – get in touch. If you’re on invested about £3 million to help us keep customers Coronavirus outbreak, we are following Community Benefits using a garden trug underneath my a low income, have lost your job BO FR & in water if there’s a burst or we’re making a repair. Government and NHS advice to make sure Free garden wildlife Regional Investment OK plant pots to catch the excess water or have had an emergency then EESEED This includes a new fleet of tankers and 18 new safety is paramount throughout the scheme. to reuse on them – Chloe Mitchell technicians, meaning we can act more rapidly the last thing we want is for you to book and wildflower seeds worry about your bill. We will work S and plan repairs without needing to affect The new pumping station is due with you, based on your individual With 57 nature reserves across Devon, membership Hidden message: supplies to customers. to be completed by February 2021. of Devon Wildlife Trust is your passport to a more Get involved at circumstances, to make it as easy wild life! Join DWT with Waterlevel and receive a free For more information see as possible for you to manage your Wildlife Trust garden wildlife book and wildflower southwestwater.co.uk/save5litres Visit southwestwater.co.uk/tacklingleakage southwestwater.co.uk/coombelane water bill. seed mix. If you see a leak that needs urgent repair, please Go to devonwildlifetrust.org/waterlevel and support call our free 24-hour helpline on 0800 230 0561 or We have a range of support Thank you! Registered charity, us today! Membership offer valid until 31 October 2020. WaterAid/Tom Greenwood Handwashing is a first line of defence report it on our website southwestwater.co.uk/leaks no 213224 against COVID-19. Yet 4 in 10 people available, from flexible payment around the world live without access to plans to help you spread the cost Name: basic handwashing facilities. of your water bill to support tariffs M & FR that reduce the amount you pay Get 3 months free Address: Thank you! EM S WaterAid/Tom Greenwood Handwashing Handwashing is is aafirst line first ofofdefence linethan defence against COVID-19. Thank you to all of South West Now, more ever, we need to help EE BE EED against COVID-19. Yet 4 in 10 people Yet 4 in 10 around people the world live without access toa if you’re on a low income. We also membership and a pack RS S ensure that everyone, everywhere has Water’s staff, customers and around the world live without access to HI basic handwashing offer home visits from one of our fightingfacilities. chance of staying safe and heathy. of wildflower seeds P basic handwashing facilities. partners who have helped Now, more than ever, we need to help ensure that everyone, WaterCare advisors who can talk Postcode: Thank you to allchange of Southlives Now, more than West with Theever, power to help we need save lives is in our hands to help you through the support we provide WaterAid ensure that everyone, everywhere has a everywhere fighting chance and together, we can has a of staying make safe it and healthy. happen. Nature has provided joy and comfort in the difficult months Tel: Water’s staff, customers and and can help you with completing of lockdown. Become a Cornwall Wildlife Trust member today clean water and good hygiene. fighting chance of staying safe and heathy. to help protect and enhance Cornwall’s wildlife and wild places. partners who have helped Find The power to helpout more save is inwww.wateraid.org lives at our hands and together, we application forms, if you need it. Email: The power to help save lives is in our hands WaterAid change lives with can make it happen. and together, we can make it happen. Go to www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org/waterlevel and complete clean water and good hygiene. Find out more about how we can Send to: Waterlevel Wordsearch, South West Water, the direct debit instruction – no payment will be taken for 3 months. Find Find out out more www.wateraid.org moreatatwww.wateraid.org help at southwestwater.co.uk/bills Registered charity, Offer valid until 31 October 2020. Peninsula House, Rydon Lane, Exeter, EX2 7HR no 214929 Closing date for entries: 31 December 2020 6 7
Our Priority Services Where to find out At some stage in our lives, we can all benefit from a bit of extra help. more We publish various reports and documents on our website This could be due to a physical or learning available to anyone living in our region, even to help customers find out more about what we do, our disability, illness, age or communication if you’re not the bill payer. The help available future plans and how we can help them. requirement, or other reasons. doesn’t have to be for you, if you’re an account holder or nominated carer you Following feedback from you, publications such as The help available to people on our Priority can register on behalf of someone else. our Annual Performance Report and Business Plan 2020-25 Services register includes providing bills in have also been condensed into shorter customer summaries, formats such as Braille or large print, reading Find out more at so that you are able to access important information bills to customers over the telephone and southwestwater.co.uk/priorityservices about our performance and future plans in a customer helping with alternative water supplies or call 0344 346 1010 or minicom 0800 169 friendly format. in emergencies. Our Priority Services are 9965 (Text Relay is also available). Visit southwestwater.co.uk to find out more. Community round-up Our customer promise We know your water and wastewater Working in partnership Recent highlights services are vital, and if something goes Devon and Cornwall Food Action 187 tonnes of marine waste, wrong, we’ll work We’re proud to support collected and redistributed more mainly plastics, have been collected hard to put it right as than 300 tonnes of surplus from the region’s beaches by some amazing charity food to vulnerable communities BeachCare volunteers to date. quickly as possible. partners doing great across the South West. The 630-mile South West Coast work in our region: 1,320 children participated in a free Path overlooks bathing waters We want to provide you with the best possible service. If you BeachCare with Keep Britain Tidy hour-long RNLI Swim Safe Session and contributes £436 million think we’ve fallen short of this, at Marazion or Bude, learning to the visitor economy. please let us know so we can sort Cornwall Wildlife Trust how to stay safe in open water. Over 2,760 people of all ages it out as quickly as possible. Devon Wildlife Trust Beach Schools South West enjoyed outdoor events run by Our customer promise explains South West Coast Path Association provided outdoor learning Cornwall Wildlife Trust in 2019. what you can expect from us and opportunities for more than 3,000 1,934 schoolchildren visited Surf Life Saving GB what we’ll do to make amends if schoolchildren in disadvantaged Devon Wildlife Trust’s Wembury Beach Schools South West we don’t meet the standards. areas of Plymouth and Torbay. Marine Centre in 2019. Environment Plymouth Download a copy from our website at southwestwater.co.uk/promise Improving Lives Plymouth or call us on 0344 346 1010. Planet Earth Games ReFill Age UK Cornwall & The Isles of Scilly Age UK Devon Correction Tree pledge Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust The Autumn 2019 edition of Waterlevel wrongly stated that Devon Air Ambulance Trust 174 million tonnes of marine Devon and Cornwall Food Action waste had been collected by BeachCare volunteers. This RNLI Mayflower 400 Working with a range of partners, we have promised should have said 174 tonnes. South West Lakes Trust to plant at least 100,000 trees over the next 10 years. Trees bring both environmental and wellbeing benefits. They help combat climate change, prevent flooding and add to the natural beauty of our region. Follow us on Earlier this year, we completed some planting on land around our reservoirs at Roadford, Burrator and Park Lake in partnership with South West Lakes Trust and Westcountry social media Rivers Trust, and with the help of volunteers from a wide range of organisations. To find out about supply interruptions, water-saving tips and other news In total, we have supported the planting of 43,800 trees in this first year of delivery facebook.com/SouthWestWater against the 100,000 target. We hope to significantly increase this figure over the next 10 years as we identify more potential partners. @SouthWestWater
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