19 Jun 2025
Image description: River running through stones. Photo by kazuend on Unsplash The Environment Department (Defra) said more than £100 million in fines and penalties levied on water firms for breaches such as illegal sewage spills since October 2023, as well as future fines, will be reinvested in projects to clean up England’s waters. The […]
19 Jun 2025
Image description: Wide shot of the houses of Parliament. Image by Dominika Gregušová / Pexels. A report from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Efra) select committee has said bonuses and dividends for water company bosses and shareholders should be approved by the regulator Ofwat before they are paid, as billpayer funds are being […]
12 Jun 2025
Image description: Aerial view of water treatment works. Image by Tom Fisk / Pexels. Dwr Cymru Welsh Water has reported an £8m loss for the past financial year, despite a £46m profit the year before. The Water company said it had invested a record £629m in its water and wastewater network in 2024-25, and […]
12 Jun 2025
Image description: Wide shot of the houses of Parliament. Image by Dominika Gregušová / Pexels. The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC) heard evidence in person earlier this week from senior executives at Ofwat, Water UK, CCW, DEFRA and the Environment Agency as part of its current inquiry into water sector regulation. In […]
12 Jun 2025
Image description: sewage outfalls emptying into the ocean. Image by Tom Fisk. Unfair bonuses banned The government has confirmed “unfair bonuses” have been banned for six water companies with immediate effect, following new measures from the Water (Special Measures) Act coming into force. The government said that in the past 10 years, executives at […]
05 Jun 2025
Image Description: Water treatment facility from a birds-eye view. Image by Tom Fisk. The Independent Water Commission has released its interim report, ahead of its final findings due in the Summer. Sir Jon Cunliffe, Chair of the Commission, has set out five areas where he believes wide-ranging and fundamental change is needed to reset […]
05 Jun 2025
Image: A man paddleboarding. Image by Kampus Production / Pexels. In March, the government announced reforms which it says will modernise “outdated” regulations around bathing water quality, and will “keep pace with Britain’s love of swimming”. The system for monitoring the more than 550 designated, outdoor, swimming sites in England and Wales will be […]
29 May 2025
Photo description: Tower Bridge straddling the Thames. Image by Albrecht Fietz / Pixabay Thames Water has been fined a total of £122.7m for breaching rules over sewage spills and shareholder payouts, as Ofwat finalised both the penalty and enforcement order which have been imposed on the company. A £104.5m penalty has been issued for […]
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