Water Services Regulation Authority (OFWAT)

The complainant has requested communications involving Ofwat, the Environment Agency (EA) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs about the interpretation of and enforcement of the Urban Waste Water Treatment (England and Wales) Regulations 1994 (UWWTR). Ofwat refused the request under regulation 12(5)(b) (the course of justice), regulation 12(5)(d) (confidentiality of proceedings) and regulation 12(4)(d) (material in the course of completion). The Commissioner’s decision is that the public authority has correctly applied regulation 12(5)(d) and that the balance of the public interest favours maintaining the exception. No steps are required.