Water supply

Latest

Water-only complaints jump 66% after extreme weather

The number of complaints about water-only companies rose 66% year-on-year following supply interruptions during extreme weather. Although billing disputes dominated the causes of grievances, water watchdog CCW said environmental factors such as the hot, dry summer and freeze-thaw in 2022 triggered an influx of customer complaints when water supplies were affected. South East was named as the most complained about water-only company with disputes related to the freeze thaw, and how subsequent compensation claims were dealt, leading to a surge in customer contacts.

2 years ago

PR24: Smart metering hits mainstream

2 years ago

PR24: SES to ‘fall short’ on net zero

2 years ago

SVT ‘really confident’ Ofwat will approve £13bn spend

Severn Trent has told investors it is confident the "vast majority" of its spending plans for 2025-2030 will be approved, after asking for a doubling in total expenditure compared to the current price control. Meanwhile chief executive Liz Garfield promised growth in regulatory capital value “beyond anything people might have been expecting” for PR24.

2 years ago

Severn Trent first to reveal PR24 plan

In the first signal of how water companies are approaching investment plans for 2025-2030, Severn Trent has indicated it expects totex to more than double compared to the first half of the decade. The company gave a summary of its plans as it announced it is seeking £1 billion equity to fund a programme of river improvements, resilience and service. It has also revealed indicative views on bill rises and key performance commitments.

2 years ago

Coffey summons ‘extremely disappointing’ water bosses

2 years ago

Water companies owe billpayers £236 million for underperformance

2 years ago

Final hosepipe ban ends

South West Water has ended the final hosepipe ban, which had been in place for residents of north Devon and Cornwall since last year. Reservoir levels are now up to 28% higher than this time last year.

2 years ago

Regaining the narrative on drinking water

Tap water in the UK is among the best in the world, yet the sector that produces it is routinely criticised over its performance by the media and politicians. At the Drinking Water Quality Conference 2023, sector experts explored how we regain the narrative. They also debated how we can eradicate lead from drinking water and whether the current debate over unsafe concrete in schools could be a gateway.

2 years ago

Anglian warns of ‘huge’ water demand from hydrogen

2 years ago

MPs call for water efficiency measures to be included in ECO4

2 years ago

Northumbrian to add a million smart meters

2 years ago

Rural residents blighted by rats in their water supply

People living in rural communities are forced to deal with rats, tadpoles and brown bath water on a daily basis because they are not connected to a mains water supply, MPs have heard. The blight of rural communities was raised in a Westminster Hall debate in which the government came under fire for failing to support those living in properties without a water mains connection. MP Simon Clarke proposed new legislation and called on Defra to fund connections in exceptional circumstances.

2 years ago

Ofwat seeks net zero innovations

2 years ago

Where will England’s next reservoirs be?

2 years ago

Armitt: Water sector has a lot of catching up to do

2 years ago

Helm: Breaking up Thames would be a good start

Economist Dieter Helm has proposed dividing beleaguered Thames into two public limited companies with simplified ownership to improve management and prevent financial engineering. The sector's long-term critic also took Ofwat to task for not taking steps to strip poorly-performing companies of their licences and proposed reverting to the single-company structures of the original privatised companies.

2 years ago

£20m pipeline to boost water security in Essex

A water transfer project to move 50 megalitres of water between treatment sites in Essex has begun work to bolster resilience of supplies in the region. Raw supplies will be able to move from a reservoir to both treatment plants to better exploit treatment capacity. Essex and Suffolk is investing £20million in the scheme, which will serve 370,000 customers.

2 years ago

UK water security at risk

2 years ago

Hosepipe ban to end after 14 months

2 years ago