Sustainable infrastructure

Water companies should be able to withstand one-in-500-year droughts

Water resource management plans should prepare an area for once in 500-year drought events and feature natural capital solutions to resource management, according to proposed updates to planning guidance.

ESO highlights importance of flexibility for decarbonisation

Ofwat remains steadfast on CMA appeals

As the CMA gathers submissions and evidence for redetermining the business plans of Anglian, Bristol, Northumbrian and Yorkshire Water, Ofwat has firmly defended its position and the final determinations it handed to the companies in December.

Defra promises to double flood protection investment

ESO urged to consider separate de-rating factors for distributed generators

Northumbrian invests in second gas-to-grid plant

Northumbrian has invested £9.5 million in harnessing biomethane from the wastewater treatment process that will cut energy bills for the company and, once returned to National Grid, will power up to 5,000 homes

Greater understanding of CSOs needed

‘Make some noise’ for water efficiency

Anglian chief executive Peter Simpson has called for water - “our most precious resource” -  to be central to the climate change debate, while shadow environment minister Luke Pollard urged the sector to “make more noise” to put it there. Both were speaking on the first day of Waterwise's virtual conference.

Construction begins on world’s longest interconnector

Plugging the 3,170 million litre leak

United Utilities launches innovation accelerator

SSEN allowed to continue operating HVDC testing facility

Water sector underperforms but gains trust

Wastewater analysed to detect coronavirus

Wastewater could be an early indicator of outbreaks of Covid-19, as non-infectious, genetic material from the virus is understood to survive in faeces. Research into the detection and behaviour of the virus is being undertaken across the UK and hailed as the 'canary in the coalmine' for the disease

CCC pushes for water metering and labelling

The Committee on Climate Change has called on Defra to increase water metering, set more ambitious leakage and consumption targets and introduce mandatory water efficiency labelling. Anglian Water's climate change and carbon manager Matt Pluke welcomed the recognition of the water sector’s role in achieving the net zero target but said more needs to be done to eliminate emissions from heating.

Thames flushes out fatbergs across capital

Thames Water has shifted almost 700 tonnes of debris from its sewer network including fatbergs and concretebergs that form when improper materials are disposed of down the drain.

Early engagement needed on SuDS

Early engagement with stakeholders is needed to plan for sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) and for green urbanisation, a civil planning event heard.

UKWIR examines consumption in project to halve abstraction

The largest research project of its kind has been launched by the UK Water Industry Research with companies across the UK and Ireland to understand consumption as part of a larger investigation into reducing abstraction.

Public concern for environment growing but water left behind

Despite the driest spring on record the British public still overwhelmingly considers the UK to be a wet place and many have no concerns about future water supplies. That is according to a new report by Love Water which also suggests people are more aware and concerned about the natural world as a result of the coronavirus lockdown.

Kwarteng dismisses concerns about interconnector drive

The government has rejected an accusation that increased use of interconnectors would bind the UK into EU attempts to create a “comprehensive” European energy market post-Brexit, as MPs passed new rules to amend the Capacity Market.