He interprets his duty to include creating a framework in which market competition can develop. Inset appointments Inset appointments provide for the existing regulated water or sewerage supplier to be replaced by another, for a specific site. The existing licensed supplier agrees to the inset. The Director granted the first inset appointment in May 1997, allowing Anglian Water to supply a large user previously supplied by Essex and Suffolk Water.
Companies have a duty to allow connections to their water mains from outside their areas.
This means that customers are entitled to receive water for domestic purposes from any licensed supplier, irrespective of where they live. The company is entitled to recover the costs of connecting the customer to its mains. Owners of private sewers and drains have a similar entitlement to connect to the public sewer. Most people in England and Wales receive their water and sewerage services from licensed companies which are regulated by the Director. Some private operators exist, who are not licensed or regulated by the Director, and customers are entitled to buy water and sewerage services from them.