Water

Weekend press round-up: Brearley urges networks to embrace ‘collective spirit’

In our latest round-up of the weekend’s papers, Ofgem chief executive Jonathan Brearley urges networks to embrace the “collective spirit” as the regulator reins in their profits for RIIO2, Thames Water comes under the spotlight for payments made to former chief executive Steve Robertson and environmental groups raise concerns over planning changes being brought in to hasten the economic recovery from the coronavirus.

Facing AMP7 challenges together

Water sector underperforms but gains trust

‘Pop-up rainforests’ grown to reduce carbon and flooding

Yorkshire is working with farmers to improve soil quality and reduce flooding by planting cover crops in between routine grows. The 'pop up rainforests' capture CO2 and the improved soil means less input is required by farmers so fewer chemicals are leached into waterways

Homeworking can be a catalyst for change

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

Former shadow environment minister joins Portsmouth Water’s board

Portsmouth adds a former MP to its board to bring extra environmental and water policy expertise as it embarks on the first reservoir project in the south east for 50 years

#AskUsAnything: The investor view of the utilities sector post-Covid

Our latest #AskUsAnything show will discuss the attractiveness of the UK utilities sector to investors, and ask how the pandemic has affected this. Dominic Nash, head of European utilities research at Barclays, Peter Antolik, of Arjun Infrastructure Partners and Lawrence Slade, CEO of the Global Infrastructure Investor Association, will discuss questions posed by Utility Week readers.

MOSL plots course for transition out of lockdown

The market operator for the non-domestic water retail sector (MOSL) is to set out how suppliers should gradually remove the protections for businesses impacted by coronavirus. Its Market Performance Operating Plan also aims to tackle legacy issues around the capture and use of data.

Yorkshire tenders to switch to solar power

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.

Partnership brings optimism for shared PSR platform

A pan-utilities collaborative project to raise awareness of the Priority Services Register has united 12 companies with a single message as the sectors edge closer to a shared data platform.

Wessex establishes community fund

To help people in the community worst affected by the coronavirus, Wessex Water has established a foundation to distribute annual grants between local charitable organisations

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.