Problems with information
Requests for information we do not hold
If you ask us for information we do not hold, we will do our best to direct you to another organisation that we think should be able to help you, and to provide you with their contact details.
We are the economic regulator of the water industry in England and Wales. Other information may be held by the quality regulators, the Environment Agency and the Drinking Water Inspectorate, or by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
Requests for information we have obtained from a third party
Third parties include for example, water companies or organisations tendering for a contract. We encourage third parties to publish their own information themselves.
If you ask us for information supplied to us by a third party we will apply the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) exemptions and Environmental Information Regulations exceptions as necessary to protect the public interest. And we normally inform third parties before we release any of their information that is not currently in the public domain.
In the case of water companies, we collect some information from them under the provisions of the Water Industry Act 1991 (WIA91), The WIA91 also normally prevents us from disclosing this information without their consent. If the WIA91 prevents us from disclosing information, then the FOIA also says that we do not have to disclose the information.
Refusal to provide information
If we decide not to release the information you ask us for, and you are unhappy with our decision, you should first ask us to carry out an internal review.
