31 May 2023

According to exclusive research published in the Guardian, eleven billion litres of raw sewage were discharged from a sample of 30 water company treatment works in one year. The study aimed to reveal the volume of discharged effluent released from storm overflows by water firms. Companies are not forced to reveal the volume of raw […]

24 May 2023

As reported in last week’s news, Water UK has apologised on behalf of English water companies for sewage in rivers and announced a plan to: Triple investment to £10bn in the next five year period (subject to regulatory approval) to cut sewage overflows by up to 140,000 each year compared to the level in 2020. […]

24 May 2023

Ministers were warned about the dangers of private equity taking over the water industry in a briefing that has been kept secret for 20 years, according to the Guardian. Details of the analysis are still being withheld as sewage pollution and the failure of water companies to invest in infrastructure are under national scrutiny. On […]

24 May 2023

In a new paper, Time to pull the plug on the water privatisation model, Professor Sir Dieter Helm says the current water model needs an overhaul: “The sheer scale of public anger is a once-in-a-30-year opportunity to put it right, reform properly and create a new model that lasts,” he said. He calls for: A […]

18 May 2023

Industry body Water UK has apologised on behalf of water and sewage companies in England for not acting quickly enough on sewage spills. To put things right, the industry plans to make the largest ever investment in storm overflows as part of a major programme to reduce spills into rivers and seas. In addition, a […]

03 May 2023

Largest ever fine imposed for environmental offences in Devon and Cornwall as South West Water is told by court ‘incidents of pollution will no longer be tolerated’ South West Water (SWW) has been fined more than £2 million for a series of environmental offences across Devon and Cornwall spanning a period of four years. It […]

05 Apr 2023

According to the government, it has set out “a new plan to clean up our waters and ensure a plentiful supply for the future”. Specific measures include £1.6 billion investment brought forward to speed up vital water infrastructure projects a commitment to consult on a ban on the use of plastic in wet wipes fines […]