Unrealistic expectations about the role of government in the water industry undermine trust, a leading organisation has claimed.

Following a report from the Better Regulation Commission (BRC), Water UK has called for government and private organisations to work together to address problems faced by the industry.

"The relationship between risk and regulation has developed in ways which are at best unhelpful to society's interests and at worst are actually damaging," the organisation claims, indicating that a better understanding of the role of authorities is required.

Poor understanding of risk, Water UK added, can lead to a "glut of rules and guidelines" that could mean firms take less responsibility for risk, along with diluting the corporate "sense of adventure".

Water UK consults the water industry's views regarding regulatory change, liaising with key stakeholders and working on behalf of the sector.

Meanwhile, the BRC report - Risk, Responsibility, Regulation: Whose Risk Is It Anyway? - concluded that the national attitude to risk is becoming "defensive and disproportionate".


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