Thames Water makes millennium pledge

Thames Water claims it is the first utility to sign Action 2000's promise of millennium compliance, Pledge 2000. The utility says its £11.5m project was begun in 1995 and will be completed by July. Over 3,000 sites need to be checked, but the UK utility is confident of meeting the deadline.

Pledge 2000 is not a legally binding document, but it does indicate board-level commitment to Year 2000 programmes.

The UK water industry has come under much criticism lately for apparent lack of action on the issue. Action 2000 specifically requested that Ofwat look into the matter.

An Ofwat spokeswoman said it mailed an assessment questionnaire to all the water companies in January. The results were incomplete, so Ofwat recently appointed an independent consultant, Montgomery Watson, which will give the regulatory body a full report by October. The main concern is computerised engineering control systems for the treatment and pumping of water and sewage.