12 Sep 2024

The new government has set out details of the provisions in the Water (Special Measures) Bill and how they are intended to apply. The policy statement includes details on provisions which will enable government and regulators to: block bonuses for executives who pollute our waterways bring criminal charges against persistent law breakers enable automatic and […]

05 Sep 2024

Water UK, the trade association for the water industry, has published its response to Ofwat’s recent draft determination, which gives the economic regulator’s initial view of water company business plans for the forthcoming five year period, 2025 to 2040. In its submission Water UK urges Ofwat to back company plans in full and ensure the […]

31 Jul 2024

One of the major credit rating companies, Fitch Ratings, has warned that some UK water companies will “find it challenging” to maintain existing ratings for AMP8 In a new report, Fitch says the Draft Determinations recently announced by UK water regulator Ofwat for the AMP8 April 2025 to March 2030 investment period, introduces several significant changes […]

17 Jul 2024

Last week’s Ofwat announcement on draft determinations for 2025-2030 business plans was covered in Water News. The headlines are that the £96bn proposed programme has been reduced by nearly 10% to £88bn, and allowable bill increases have been reduced by 33%. In slightly more detail, there is £10bn to reduce storm overflows, £1.4bn of which […]

17 Jul 2024

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has written to water companies urging them to ‘be open’ about sewage spills and calling on companies to be as transparent as possible with customers about waste discharges into rivers. The ICO is a non-departmental public body which reports directly to Parliament and is sponsored by the Department for Science, […]

11 Jul 2024

New Environment Secretary Steve Reed has announced a series of initial steps towards ending the crisis in the water sector. He has today announced: He has written to Ofwat to ask them to make sure funding for vital infrastructure investment is ringfenced and can only be spent on upgrades benefiting customers and the environment. He […]

11 Jul 2024

Ofwat has published its draft determinations for English and Welsh water companies, allowing a spending package of £88bn over the next 5 years, £16bn less than proposed by companies in their business plans. Ofwat’s headlines Investment of £10bn to tackle storm overflows with a target to reduce spills from storm overflows by 44% from levels […]

10 Jul 2024

According to The Guardian, the prime minister and chancellor have been briefed by Whitehall officials that the poor state of Thames Water presents a “critical risk” to the country. Fears about the company go beyond its precarious financial position and include the management of sites that provide drinking water and sewage treatment for millions of […]