STEVEN Broomhead writes a regular column for the Warrington Guardian

WATER has been in the news for all the wrong reasons as the unpredictable and uncertain summer weather mirror images the government’s approach to Brexit.

While we have had too much water for this summer, scarcity of clean water is a huge challenge in the world today.

Three in ten people in the world lack access to safe water at home and there will be a 50 per cent increase in global water requirements in the next 20 years due to increasing population and consumer demand.

Water management and unsustainable usage will become more and more significant and we can’t take a reliable supply of clean water for granted anymore

New technological solutions such as purification and re-useable methods will become more and more significant.

Subjects such as drainage and water supply which in the past have induced rigid boredom are now very important national and local issues.

We are the home to United Utilities which is the UK’s largest water company and has the stewardship for the provision of water services for more than seven million people in the north west.

United Utilities employs more than 5,300 people and are a major contributor to our local economy and every year invests approximately £200 million regionally in its water enhancement projects.

It also has an excellent track record of working globally to support the development of clean water supplies.

It has, of course, some challenges such as the maintenance of reservoirs and dams and dealing with water loss from leaking pipes – some 20 per cent of potable water is lost through leaking pipes which is one of the reasons we see on our streets a significant pipe replacement programme.

Another challenge is the current competitive and stringent price review based around the principles of efficiency, resilience, innovation and customer services.

United Utilities has recognised that it will have to work even harder on issues such as helping people who are struggling to pay their bills and also flooding, the challenge of ageing sewerage systems and the changing climatic conditions.

Water supply cannot be taken for granted and savvy water companies will be ensuring their customer experience is exemplary in the next few years to ensure customer satisfaction.

In any commoditised industry customer experience is the key to differentiation.

Thousands of people live without love, not one without water.

Water deserves our renewed attention.