워터 UK(Water UK)는 잉글랜드(England)와 웨일즈(Wales) 소재 물기업업들이 2024~2025년에 물 분야에 연간 최대 규모인 144억 파운드 이상을 투자할 계획이라고 밝혔다. 

이 투자는 새로운 저수지 건설 10건, 하수처리 작업량 증가 수십 건, 2천km 이상의 수도관 수리 및 교체에 사용될 예정이다.

동시에 200만 가구에게 상하수도 요금과 관련해 재정적 지원을 시행하고 있다. 이는 작년보다 약 두 배 증가한 수치로 2020년부터 물기업은 고객에게 관세 인하, 지불 유예, 채무 탕감 등 10억 파운드 이상의 지원을 제공하고 있다. 

또한 수도 요금을 지원하는 워터 슈어(WaterSure) 제도를 통해 저소득층 고객에게도 맞춤형 지원이 제공된다. 아울러 시각, 청각, 거동이 불편한 사람부터 12개월 미만 아이를 둔 부모까지 다양한 사람들에게 ‘우선 서비스 등록(Priority Services Register, PSR)’을 통해 재정적 지원을 비롯한 광범위한 지원을 제공한다. 

데이비드 헨더슨(David Henderson) 워터UK(Water UK)의 최고 경영자(CEO)는 “2025년에는 미래 물 공급 안전성을 확보하고, 하천과 바다의 오수를 상당히 줄이기 위한 물기업들의 투자가 기록적인 수준을 보일 것”이라며 “전국 각지의 고객들은 2천km 이상의 수도관이 수리 또는 교체되고, 더 많은 하수처리량으로 투자의 결과를 보게 될 것”이라고 말했다.

물기의 2024-2025년 투자의 예는 다음과 같다.

-25km의 타이드웨이 슈퍼 하수도(Tideway super sewer)는 템스 강(River Thames)에서 빗물을 우회시키기 위한 테스트 단계를 시작하고, 2025년 후반에 완전히 가동될 예정이다. 이 하수도가 완공되면 템스 강으로 유입되는 하수 오염이 95% 감소할 것이다. 

-포츠머스 워터(Portsmouth Water)와 서던 워터(Southern Water)는 협력 프로그램으로 햄프셔(Hampshire)의 하반트 티켓(Havant Thicket)에 저수지를 건설한다. 이는 30년 만에 영국에서 건설되는 첫 번째 저수지가 될  것이다.

-세번 트렌트(Severn Trent)는 스트라우드(Stroud)에 2천500만 파운드 규모의 새로운 하수도 시스템 설치 프로젝트와 지속 가능한 배수 시설 설치, 맨스필드(Mansfield)에 7천600만 파운드의 홍수 완화 계획을 포함한 대규모 프로젝트를 제공하고 있다.

-웰시 워터(Welsh Water)는 인근 Usk 강(River Usk)과 에이폰 루이드 강(Afon Lwyd)의 범람 횟수를 줄이고 수질을 개선하기 위해 폰티풀(Pontypool)시 근처에 1천200만 파운드 이상을 투자하고 있다. 이 부지는 웨일즈에서 최초로 갈대밭, 습지, 산책로, 환경 개선 및 교육 지역을 조성해 지역 사회에 사회·환경적 혜택을 제공하고 있다.

한편, 수도 요금 인상으로 조성된 기금은 상하수도 시스템 개선을 위한 자금으로만 사용되며, 이러한 개선이 이루어지지 않을 시 규제 기관은 청구서를 자동으로 삭감한다.

[원문보기] 

Water companies reveal £14.4 billion plan for 2024-25 after a decade of bills falling in real terms

Water companies in England and Wales will invest more than £14.4 billion in 2024- 25 - the highest annual investment on record. This will help guarantee a stable supply of clean water, even as our climate changes, and cleaner rivers and seas for people to enjoy.

The investment will help build 10 new reservoirs, increase the capacity of dozens of wastewater treatment works - meaning more capacity to treat sewage than ever before - and see more than 2,000 kilometres of pipes repaired and replaced.

At the same time a record 2 million households are now receiving some sort of financial support with their bills – nearly double the number last year – with over £1 billion of support provided to customers since 2020. This includes reduced tariffs, payment breaks and debt forgiveness. Customers are encouraged to contact their water company directly to see what help is available if they are concerned.

Targeted support is also available for low-income customers who use a lot of water for essential family or health reasons through the WaterSure scheme. And, more broadly, a wide range of assistance (not just financial) is available through the Priority Services Register for a wide range of people, from those with sight, hearing, or mobility difficulties, to parents with babies under 12 months old.

Despite the record investment, bills are rising less than they did in the previous financial year, with customers seeing their bills increase by around £2 a month (6%). But compared to the high levels of inflation seen in recent years, this represents a real terms fall of around 15% over the last decade. If water bills had kept pace with inflation since 2014-15, they would be around £60 higher today.

Customers will pay £1.29 a day for sewerage services and world-class drinking water. Full details about the new average bills can be found here. 

David Henderson, Water UK Chief Executive, said:

“Next year will see record levels of investment from water companies to secure the security of our water supply in the future and significantly reduce the amount of sewage in rivers and seas.

“Up and down the country customers will see the results of this investment with more than 2,000 kilometres of pipes being repaired or replaced and more capacity to treat sewage than ever before.

“At the same time support for customers is doubling with more than 2 million families now being with helped with their bills. Anyone with worries should contact their water company and, it is worth remembering, water companies will never cut anyone off or make them use a prepayment meter.” 

Examples of what the 2024-25 investment by water companies will deliver include: 

The 25km Tideway super sewer will begin its testing phase – diverting storm flows away from the River Thames for the first time and will be fully operational later in 2025. Once finished, sewage pollution into the River Thames will be reduced by 95%. 

Work to begin on the Havant Thicket reservoir in Hampshire. The reservoir, a joint project between Portsmouth Water and Southern Water, will be the first reservoir to be built in the UK in more than 30 years. 

United Utilities will start work on replacing large parts of the 110km Haweswater Aqueduct which has successfully served 2.5 million people in Cumbria, Lancashire and Greater Manchester for sixty years. 

Severn Trent is delivering large-scale projects including a £25 million project to install a new sewer system in Stroud, and the £76 million flood alleviation scheme in Mansfield, including installation of sustainable drainage 

South East Water will complete construction of a brand new £39 million water treatment works in March 2025 which will provide new water resources in the heart of Kent, strengthening resilience. 

South West Water is progressing plans to bring desalination to Cornwall as part of its £125 million investment to increase water resources available in Cornwall by around 45%, and in Devon by around 30%.  

Welsh Water is investing over £12 million near Pontypool to help reduce the number of spills and boost the water quality in the nearby River Usk and Afon Lwyd. The site is the first of its kind in Wales, and involves the creation of reed beds, wetlands, footpaths, environmental enhancements and educational areas, providing socio-environmental benefits for the community.

The funds raised by increased water bills are guaranteed only to fund improvements in our water and sewerage systems – and if these improvements aren’t delivered bills will automatically be reduced by the regulator.

Increased bills are only allowed where they pay for investment in things that are genuinely new and genuinely needed, like meeting targets for our water and sewerage system. 

[출처 = Water UK(https://www.water.org.uk/news-views-publications/news/water-companies-reveal-ps144-billion-plan-2024-25-after-decade-bills) / 2024년 2월 2일]

[번역 = 박원희 기자]