Environment

Mind the Tap: Why water must be central to the climate debate

New powers for water companies and a ban of non-flushable wipes proposed

A think tank has proposed around 50 measures to protect the natural environment in the UK including a ban of non-flushable wet wipes, extra powers for water companies to rectify misconnected drains and mandatory water efficiency labels.

Karam: Ofwat ‘didn’t follow precedent’ on Bristol’s FD

Bristol Water chief executive, Mel Karam, talks to Utility Week about the company's reluctant decision to challenge Ofwat's final determination - for the third price review in a row. He discusses where he believes the regulator has got it wrong and the lessons learnt from previous challenges.

Budget cuts cost jobs at Anglian

Water company ratings shift on the back of CMA decisions

Credit rating agency S&P has given its vedict on the water companies of England & Wales after taking into account the reactions to the 'toughest determination ever' from Ofwat.

Sewer flooding sensors trialled

A sewer detection system that could predict where blockages and floods will happen is being trialled by infrastructure company Amey. Water companies have been set stretching targets as part of PR19 to reduce incidents of sewer flooding and will face financial penalties if they fail to meet the targets.

Ofwat confirms inter-company loans will be banned

Stormtroopers: Water sector battles through

After two significant storms wreaked havoc on the UK, river levels still remain dangerously high, raising fears of more disruption. Utility Week looks at the work water companies have undertaken so far, with teams working day and night, often in dangerous conditions, to maintain or restore water to their customers

CCW issues advice on stamping out billing complaints

Challenging PR19: Where CMA appeals can be won or lost

With a record number of appellants requesting referrals from Ofwat to the Competition and Markets Authority for their PR19 business plans, Utility Week gathers expert views on the areas most likely to feature in the appeals.

Portsmouth hits back at ‘inference of overcharging’

SES raises cost and customer concerns to regulator

With just one day to go until the deadline for appealing to the CMA, SES Water has accepted its final determination but highlighted the challenges the cost gap and lower allowed revenue will create. Newly appointed chief executive Ian Cain said company had raised its concerns to Ofwat and would look for alternative approaches to deliver for its customers.

Bristol rejects Ofwat’s final determination

Bristol Water is the second company to make a request to Ofwat to refer its business plan to the Competition and Markets Authority for appeal. The company said there were "some technical issues, mainly around how to finance our company" that caused it to appeal.

Londoners must stop seeing water as ‘infinitely available resource’

Yorkshire speaks for the many, not the few

Yorkshire Water's rejection of Ofwat's final determination on its 2020-2025 business plan, triggering a referral to the CMA, has lit the touch paper on what was already an explosive situation. But will the fire spread? Ruth Williams investigates whether the company's concerns represent a wider rebellion across the sector.