UK water companies collaborate on Year 2000

NEWS The water industry has invested £100,000 in a six-month project to share millennium bug information. A Web-based database will pool compliance research from the UK's 33 water companies. Each company will conduct its own research of computerised and embedded chip systems, then post the findings on the site. Adrian Beeby, of industry body Water UK, said although some companies have already begun compliance procedures, this is the first time they have specifically set out to share the results of internal systems audits. Gordon Simmons, also of Water UK, said: "It makes sense to pool our resources so everyone doesn't have to keep going through the same processes. This initiative will improve speed and reduce costs." Beeby added that some small water companies, such as York Water with only 90 employees, can face greater difficulty in conducting research. "It's very useful to exchange information if you don't have the staff yourself," he said. Although no figure for overall compliance costs was available, Beeby said one large water company put the cost at £15m. Beeby also pointed out that no regulatory body has been given responsibility to oversee the water industry's millennium compliance. Ofwat parliamentary officer Mark Slattery agreed, saying that Ofwat does not intend to conduct a comprehensive audit of individual companies, although they will be visiting some to look at the action being taken. "Technically it doesn't fall to us to regulate the problem, but we have chosen to do something," said Slattery.