Who we are
Ofwat (the Water Services Regulation Authority) is a non-ministerial government department. We were established in 1989 when the water and sewerage industry in England and Wales was privatised. Our statutory role and duties are primarily laid out in the Water Industry Act 1991.
We are independent of government and the water companies, although we are directly accountable to Parliament and the Welsh Assembly Government.
Based in Birmingham, we employ around 200 people. If you are interested in working for us, you can find out more in our jobs section.
We have a Board structure. The Board comprises a Chair, Chief Executive, executive Board members and non-executive directors. Board members are appointed by the Secretary of State in consultation with the Welsh Assembly Government.
Our Board meets regularly during the year. We publish the minutes of their meetings on this website. The Board operates according to published rules of procedure, which cover all aspects of its work – from how often it should meet to how decisions are made. In October 2011 Defra and the Welsh Government announced that they have decided to re-launch a recruitment exercise to appoint a new Chair. Philip Fletcher appointment as Chairman has been extended. In October 2011 Philip Fletcher, our Chairman, wrote to our key stakeholders to update them on our Board appointments.
