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Executive overview
Key findings
1,406,053 and 2,923,931: resident population served for water and for wastewater (2024-25, actual)
334.58 Ml/d: distribution input (2024-25, actual)
76.98 Ml/d: total annual leakage in 2025-26, up from 69.10 Ml/d (actual)
£3,734 million: allowed revenue for 2025-30 after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) decision of 10 March 2026 (2022-23 prices)
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Buyer relevance
Who the report is for
Suppliers new to the Wessex Water region
Get the size of both systems at once, from 12,162.7 km of potable mains to 1,300 storm overflows and 68 treatment works.
Local authorities and catchment partners
Compare drought status, leakage and pollution results for the area, including the hosepipe ban in force since 18 August 2026.
Investors and lenders
See the regulatory settlement, with allowed revenue of £3,734 million after the CMA decision, beside gearing of 72.0% and a Baa2 rating.
Policy and regulatory teams
Follow how Ofwat, the CMA, the Environment Agency and the Drinking Water Inspectorate each bear on the company as a single regulator is planned.
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Decision scope
Questions answered
How large is Wessex Water's sewerage system compared with its water system?
It served 2,923,931 residents in 2024-25 against 1,406,053 for water, and treated about 1,009 Ml/d of wastewater against 334.58 Ml/d of drinking water put into supply.
Is Wessex Water in drought?
A company-wide hosepipe ban began on 18 August 2026 and was still in force on 6 November 2026, with the company at drought level 3.
Which bodies regulate Wessex Water?
Ofwat sets its price control, the Environment Agency rates its environmental performance (2 stars in 2024 and 2025) and the Drinking Water Inspectorate publishes its drinking water quality data; the CMA redetermined its 2025-30 price control on 10 March 2026.
How long is Wessex Water's sewer network?
The company's drainage plan gives about 35,000 km and the Environment Agency uses a baseline of 34,944 km; the report shows both.
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Inside the report
Inside the complete report
Executive Overview
1. Water Resource Profile
2. Governance and Institutional Framework
3. Infrastructure and Service Delivery
Strategic Outlook and Opportunities
Source Register
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Public preview
What to watch next
1. Water Resource Profile
When the hosepipe ban is lifted; the outcome of the seven drought permit applications; 2026-27 leakage and per capita consumption; any WRMP update after the drought.
2. Governance and Institutional Framework
The Transition Plan; the EA's 2026 rating; whether serious pollution incidents return to zero; any further enforcement after the 2025 Enforcement Undertaking.
3. Infrastructure and Service Delivery
Mains renewed and bursts in 2025-26 and 2026-27; the 2025-26 APR tables for sewer and treatment volumes; spills per overflow in a wetter year.
Strategic Outlook and Opportunities
Net debt and gearing in the FY2026 statutory accounts, filed on 2 October 2026 and not reflected in the FY2025 figures shown here; the 2026-27 APR; the EA's 2026 rating; the lifting of the hosepipe ban; the Transition Plan.
Section 3 lays out water and wastewater assets and service results with their periods, including conflicting sewer lengths shown side by side.
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Included
What you receive
The complete PDF report: 10 pages, 6 sections, 12 tables and a register of 17 sources.
This edition
November 2026, First edition.
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Evidence & method
Evidence and method
The report draws on Wessex Water's Annual Performance Reports and regulatory tables, its water resources and drainage plans and statutory accounts, Drinking Water Inspectorate key facts, Environment Agency performance and drought reports, Ofwat's PR24 determination and the CMA's March 2026 redetermination.
Sources
17 sources, listed in the report's source register. Evidence current to 9 November 2026. Principal data periods: Annual Performance Report (APR) tables for 2024-25 (year ended 31 March 2025); APR 2025-26 (calendar 2025 for environmental measures); statutory accounts for FY2025 (year ended 30 June 2025); Drinking Water Inspectorate data for calendar 2023; PR24 price control 2025-30; drought status as of 6 November 2026. All currency is pounds sterling (£)..
Evidence boundaries
This report uses authoritative source material available at the stated research cutoff. It distinguishes published facts, calculated values and analytical interpretation. No independent modelling is performed. Forward-looking analysis reflects published plans, documented trends and stated uncertainties. It does not constitute legal, financial, investment or engineering advice.
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Lead analyst
Robert C. Brears
Founder, Our Future Water Intelligence
Robert C. Brears is a water-security specialist and author whose work examines utility governance, infrastructure investment, climate resilience and long-term water-system change for executive and policy audiences.
- Decision-focused utility intelligence
- Published water-policy author
- Evidence-grounded system analysis
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Buyer FAQs
Before you purchase
Who can use the report?
Licensed for internal use within one purchasing organization. The PDF and its contents may be shared with colleagues within that organization. External redistribution, resale and public publication are prohibited without permission.
How is the report delivered?
The PDF is available to download immediately after confirmed payment, through our secure delivery system.
Can my organization buy wider access?
Institutional purchasing: For invoice enquiries, multi-organization licensing or broader access requirements, contact Our Future Water Intelligence.
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Water Systems Overview: Wessex Water
- Format
- Length
- 10 pages
- Edition
- November 2026, First edition
- Price
- USD 499
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Report details
Publication details
- Publisher
- Our Future Water Intelligence
- Report family
- Water Utility Intelligence Report
- Edition
- November 2026, First edition
- Format
- Length
- 10 pages
- Reference
- OFW_EXT_WATER_SYSTEMS_OVERVIEW_WESSEX_WATER_be02466fd43f
- Evidence current to
- 9 November 2026
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