Factors affecting the procurement of capital works for the United Kingdom water industry

In England and Wales the responsibility for the provision and maintenance of water supply and sewerage facilities was transferred to the private sector with the sale (privatisation) of the government-owned Regional Water Authorities to create nine English and one Welsh public limited companies (PLCs). Prior to privatisation, the Regional Water Authorities held an agreement whereby the various English Local Authorities were responsible as agents to the Water Authorities for the provision and maintenance of sewerage facilities within their districts. These agency agreements were transferred to the PLCs but these could be subject to far reaching review in the future. There are also 28 existing small private water supply companies with no involvement in sewerage matters.