The water regulator Ofwat has launched a consultation exercise into the sale of Bristol Water to a Spanish company. The consultation invites comments on regulatory issues arising from the �170m takeover by Sociedad General de Aguas de Barcelona (Agbar).
It queries the suitability of Agbar to be owner of a regulated water company, and questions if it has the resources to manage the firm.
Service standards and prices will still continue to be regulated by Ofwat.
The consultation will also examine the need for modifications to Bristol Water's instrument of appointment.
Responses to the paper are required by no later than 5 July 2006.
Bristol Water supplies drinking water to over 1m customers in a 1,000 square mile area around Bristol
It is the third largest of the 13 water-only companies in England and Wales.
Agbar describes itself as the leading company in the water sector in both Spain and Chile. It also has water businesses in Colombia, Mexico and Cuba.
As of December 2005 it provided water services to approximately 22 million people worldwide.
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