The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee quizzed key decision-makers involved with Thames Water to a public hearing of the Committee on Wednesday 12 July to explain the difficulties facing the company and the water industry more generally. The Committee asked about the causes of the problems facing Thames Water and the potential solutions – […]
Ofwat has issued a statement on financial resilience in the water sector, seeking to provide reassurance following recent media reports, especially concerning Thames Water. The regulator says that “overall, the sector is continuing to attract international capital and is especially attractive to long term investors such as pension funds. Indeed, there has been an additional […]
Ofwat has brought forward 33 schemes from 2025-30, to be commenced over the next two financial years, valued at £2.2bn, up from the £1.6bn consulted on in April. The additional £600 million will deliver: Ten schemes worth close to £1.7bn to reduce overflow spills by around 10,000 per year. The installation of 462,000 smart meters […]
Latest update from the joint Environment Agency Ofwat investigation will be concerning for the whole industry The Environment Agency’s national investigation into potential breaches of permit conditions at wastewater treatment works by water and sewerage companies. On 18 November 2021, the Environment Agency and Ofwat announced separate major investigations into potential widespread non-compliance by water and sewerage companies […]
Ofwat is consulting on changes to charging rules in the form of a common framework for water companies to offer stronger and more standardised environmental incentives to developers to encourage them to build new homes that are more water efficient and with sustainable drainage. The consultation relates primarily to English water companies, for which Ofwat […]
Ofgem will be legally required to consider the UK’s net-zero carbon emissions target in all decision making, after the UK Government backed down to widespread pressure. The legal mandate is included within an amendment to the Energy Bill. The Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) has said it will amend the regulator’s existing […]
Farmers could soon be reimbursed for creating water storage ponds or water “batteries” as part of an innovative drought-prevention project that has today received funding from Ofwat’s Innovation Fund. With droughts affecting the UK for much of last summer, the project, from Westcountry Rivers Trust and South West Water, will not only contribute to better […]
The Rivers Trust will co-lead an innovative new project working to remove barriers and develop new enabling mechanisms for the adoption of nature-based solutions at a catchment scale. The project has been officially announced, thanks to a successful bid to the Ofwat Innovation Fund, led by The Rivers Trust, United Utilities, Jacobs, and Mott Macdonald. […]