Environment

UU trials biomass crops to cut nitrates

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.

Lessons from Down Under for AMP7

Experts warn of ‘significant drought’

Anglian rolls out meters following successful trial

After a successful trial in Newmarket that saw consumption drop by 8 per cent, Anglian has announced a water meter rollout programme targeting up to 750 installations per day

Ofwat sets out its three-pronged approach to £200m innovation fund

WRSE unveils framework for resilience planning

South West overhauls leakage for AMP7

South West Water has seen its leakage repair productivity rates soar in recent months compared to historic averages. Utility Week talks to the teams involved about the challenges AMP7 presents and how the company will tackle them.

Anglian sets out alliance plan

Anglian has unveiled the next steps of its pipeline water transfer scheme, which will allow it to move water around to ensure supply in the driest parts of its network

New campaign to create united voice on water efficiency

Tom Andrewartha, water efficiency manager at Northumbrian, talks to Utility Week about the newly formed group for a joined-up campaign to change household habits around water in lockdown and beyond.

Fletcher: Everyone ‘took their eye off the ball’ on leakage

Ofwat's chief executive has said that progress is now being made on leakage but admitted it has not always been treated as a high enough priority. 

Stay home, save water

Water efficiency needs a message as simple to understand and follow as "stay home, save lives", according to the head of the Environment Agency (EA). James Bevan said there were lessons from the Covid-19 crisis in terms of the significant behavioural changes accepted by the public when the urgency of the issue was clearly communicated.

Water companies urge public to limit usage

The trade body for the water industry has urged householders to be mindful of their usage at peak times as demand reached its highest ever point amid the continued lockdown and sunny weather. According to data from Water UK, people are currently using an average of 20 per cent more water, with some areas seeing up to a 40 per cent increase.

Water firms see demand rise by up to a third during lockdown

The driest May for more than a century coupled with the lockdown has seen a dramatic spike in water usage, with one company reporting a 33 per cent increase on an average month and another comparing the effect to serving an extra 400,000 customers.

Bristol Water updates social contract