Water

Yorkshire Water agrees £60m sludge removal contract

Yorkshire Water has agreed a contract with Suttons Tankers for the removal of sludge from its wastewater treatment sites that it claimed will cut the company’s carbon emissions by 15 per cent. As part of the £60 million deal, 21 drivers and 33 vehicles have been transferred from Yorkshire to Suttons.

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.

MOSL sets out vision for a simpler future

The water label debate: mandatory versus voluntary

The well-established, voluntary water efficiency label has gained recognition across Europe but water efficiency experts fear the nature of it would limit its adoption on high consumption goods, the Bathroom Manufacturers Association argues that re-inventing the wheel would hinder progress

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.

A smarter water future

Andrew Welsh, of Xylem Water Solutions UK, talks about how we can future-proof water productivity, quality and resilience with smart networking.

Consumer group calls for tougher regulatory actions in water retail

Complaints are falling in the non-household water sector but CCW expressed concerns about the rising number of issues companies are unable to resolve

How low can WACC go?

A coalition of the willing to unlock innovation

Last month, the EIC (formerly the Energy Innovation Centre) swapped one industry heavyweight for another – with former Ofgem chair David Gray replacing ex-Eon chief executive Tony Cocker at the helm of the board. Utility Week spoke to both of them about the role of innovation in the sector, embracing the “right to fail” and their respective takes on how the RIIO2 determinations will affect investment in new solutions.

#AskUsAnything: Work and workforce after coronavirus

Our next #AskUsAnything webinar will discuss what working life will look like post-pandemic as well as asking how the pandemic will affect the sector’s challenge of filling an estimated 277,000 vacancies over the next decade.

Water sector urged to increase natural capital in infrastructure plans

The regulators of the water sector and government have urged the industry to go beyond the goals of PR19 and the Public Interest Commitments to play a bigger role in a green recovery. It came as the secretary of state for the environment signalled a fresh approach to green policy – one which came in for criticism from campaigners for a lack of clarity.

DWI notes compliance improvements but says more work is needed

The Drinking Water Inspectorate has reported steady improvements to water quality compliance tests over the past two years but noted more work is needed.

Ofwat modifies licenses to boost financial resilience

Ofwat has modified the licences of water companies in England and Wales, with the exception of Wessex Water, to limit the amount of money shareholders can be paid if a water company is in financial difficulty. The regulator expressed disappointment that Wessex had not consented to the change and said it would "consider how to proceed".

Everflow’s vision of an autonomous retailer

On the Move: Hafren Dyfrdwy restructures management