Wastewater treatment

RAPID leader announced

EA's deputy director of water resources has been named as the managing director of the inter-regulatory group RAPID that will work to overcome current barriers to major infrastructure projects in the English water sector.

Water innovation fund ‘should target JVs’

Utility Week talks to Northumbrian Water’s head of innovation, Angela MacOscar, about what lessons she has brought across from her previous role tracking new trends in consumer goods. She discusses her hopes for Ofwat’s innovation fund, how facial recognition tools could help with mental wellbeing and how 2020 could be the year AI lives up to the hype.

NI Water warns of environmental and health risks of underinvesting

Continued under-investment could result in environmental or public health risks, warns NI Water as it questions its ability to provide water and wastewater infrastructure for proposed new homes across the country without new funding being added.

Putting customers first – when is the job done?

Utility of the Future: Can water reach net zero by 2030?

Cyber-attack on a water company ‘highly likely’ in 2020

Tackling the per capita consumption of water is likely to require the increased uptake of smart water meters. However, the increased level of data collection required, teamed with the explosion of publicly connected devices, leaves water companies more exposed to cyber-attacks.

New investment promised for NI Water

Investor confidence remains high under tough regulation

The tough stance adopted by Ofwat has challenged the water sector and reassured its investors, according to S&P Global Ratings. Despite difficult times ahead and lower ratings, water remains a sound longer-term investment, thanks in part to the firm regulatory framework the companies operate in, a senior director told Utility Week.

Review of 2019: A year that made history

Ofwat: Firms could lose as well as gain from CMA referrals

The director heading up PR19 has defended the regulator's “tough and proactive” final determinations and insisted "we are happy to take any challenges through the CMA process".

Moodys: PR19 will lead to overspend and operational penalties

The value of waste

Water companies are innovating to find efficiencies in every drop of water. Severn Trent has launched a test-bed to pump ideas into its wastewater treatment and look at sewage as a valuable asset

Publicly-owned water sector ‘makes economic, social and environmental sense’

Water has become the poster child for Labour’s renationalisation plans so it is little surprise that industry figures have taken a unanimously critical line. However, sector veteran Jacob Tompkins, believes this defence of privatisation has gone too far and that the sector should instead focus on why Labour’s plans have caught the public mood.

Don’t flush away your customer data

Managing disruption due to accidents and leaks is a major challenge for water companies and can make or break a reputation. Responding quickly and effectively is essential, and this is where technology can play a role.

PR19 final determination – is Ofwat for turning?

Water company shareholders may have joined the fight against Ofwat’s proposed price cuts, but it might be too little, too late, says Nigel Hawkins.