WET News

MARCH 2017 WET NEWS 13 Facing a blower breakdown? Relax. We can have a value-added replacement on its way in 36 hours. Cut your energy bills by up to 50%. Reduce your plant's noise emissions. And best of all the turbocompressor HST will not wear mechanically. So it will provide trouble-free operation for years to come. Order now and you can have a replacement compressor on its way in 36 hours; start saving up to 50% energy. Visit sulzer.com/36hours. * Applicable for selected versions of turbocompressor type ABS HST20 and HST 2500, which are ready to be dispatched from our factory in less than 36 hours (on weekdays). A blower or compressor breakdown puts your wastewater treatment plant's operation at risk. Now, with our fast-track pro- cess, when you order today we can ship you a turbocompres- sor to replace your failed unit within 36 hours*. Available in sizes suitable for most treatment plants, the turbo- compressor HST will save your process, and save you signifi- cant amounts of energy. But why wait for your blower or compressor to fail? Replace your old machine with a brand new turbocompressor HST and start reaping benefits today. Completely free Utility Week Live 2017 tickets are now available at www.utilityweeklive.co.uk Cathryn Ross is chief executive of water regulator Ofwat. Introducing competition and driving consistency across the water and sewerage sector has earned Ross a place among Utility Week Live's Top 10 key people who are transforming their respective industries. Ross is in her second stint at Ofwat — this time as chief executive — and her tenure will certainly go down as one of the most eventful since the water and sewerage sector was privatised almost 30 years ago. Retail competition in the non-domestic market in England takes effect from April. The last price review saw the water and sewerage utilities having to place greater emphasis on customer service, and adopt whole life costing as well as Outcome Delivery Incentives. Plans are already underway for the next price review (PR19) which will be based around Water 2020, Ofwat's blueprint on the future of the water sector in England and Wales. These are just a few of the milestones achieved under Ross' leadership in the three years since she rejoined Ofwat in October 2013 from the Office of Rail Regulation, where she was executive director of markets and economics. She held a similar role at Ofwat between 2008 and 2011. That is a challenging agenda. "It's a tough role that she has at the helm of Ofwat," says Fredrick Royan, vice president, environment and water at Frost and Sullivan. "The UK water sector is performing to the best of its ability because it has quite a few inherent challenges – a very old infrastructure which needs replacement and refurbishment, for instance. "But Cathryn is driving and encouraging the water utilities to change, become more efficient. She's very keen for the utilities to really embrace the innovations that are out there; become customer-centric; and gather the data which allows them to embark on the journey to improve efficiency." This change in focus driven by Ross has been welcomed by the Consumer Council for Water. Its chief executive, Tony Smith, says: "Under the leadership of Cathryn Ross has got Ofwat and the water industry focused more on customers and maintaining customer trust. "That is quite a shi› that we were looking for, and the transformation has really moved on. That's a good thing." Royan puts Ross' success down to her "hands-on approach and being more engaged with the water utilities. So, what has been Ross' key achievement so far? For Royan cites two – the opening up of the non-domestic retail market, and smart data collection and analytics. But he believes it will take time before it is known how successful these will be. "At the end of the day the change in the water utilities is how she will be judged. That is the biggest challenge," Royan concludes. Cathyryn Ross Chief executive, Ofwat ProfilE "Under the leadership of Cathryn Ross has got Oat and the water industry focused more on customers and maintaining customer trust."

• Cover