09 Jul 2026
Photo credit: Darren Tolley Severn Trent Water has been found in breach of its wastewater obligations, though Ofwat has decided against a financial penalty. The regulator concluded the company failed in its duties to provide drainage and manage the contents of its sewers, and had historically breached licence requirements to maintain adequate processes and systems. […]
09 Jul 2026
Photo credit: Swanky Fella Drinking water quality in England remained exceptionally high in 2025, even as ageing infrastructure and deteriorating asset health emerged as a threat to the long-term resilience of supplies. The Drinking Water Inspectorate’s Chief Inspector’s Annual Report found that 99.97 per cent of more than 3.5 million regulatory tests met the required […]
09 Jul 2026
Photo credit: Ted Balmer Water companies that break environmental rules now face faster financial penalties of up to £500,000, under changes that strengthen the Environment Agency’s enforcement powers. The reforms let the regulator use the lower civil standard of proof for minor and moderate offending, rather than the criminal standard that previously made many […]
25 Jun 2026
Description: A close up of someone’s hands as they count out coins. Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash Southern Water has secured the final £300 million of a £1.2 billion equity package, with most of the new capital coming from Asterion Industrial Partners. The Madrid-based infrastructure investor will join the Macquarie-led consortium as a minority shareholder […]
14 May 2026
Image description: The Royal Coronation Crown Isolated on a Black Background The UK Government has confirmed plans to introduce a new Clean Water Bill as part of the legislative programme outlined during the King’s Speech, signalling what ministers describe as a major overhaul of water regulation, environmental protection and infrastructure investment across the UK […]
15 Apr 2026
Photo by Colby Winfield on Unsplash Following an Environment Agency investigation, United Utilities pleaded guilty to introducing thousands of fish into Bessy Brook, near Bolton, without a permit. The EA says this sentence marks a regulatory milestone as the first time a water company has been sentenced under The Keeping and Introduction of Fish (England and River Esk Catchment Area) […]
05 Mar 2026
Image description: Corby Bridge, also known as Wetheral Viaduct, which carries the Newcastle–Carlisle railway. Photo by Ian Cylkowski on Unsplash The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) review on the implementation of laws for terrestrial and freshwater protected sites in England has now received an official response from the UK Government. The government’s key commitments The government welcomed the OEP’s […]
22 Jan 2025
The Environment Agency Chief Regulator, Dr Jo Nettleton, has called for the environmental regulation framework to be reformed in order to help better protect people and the environment and enable businesses to grow. The Chief Regulator’s newly-created role is to hold the Environment Agency to account in delivering its regulatory activities and to champion best […]
