Water treatment

Covid fails to derail major UU project

United Utilities’ mammoth Cumbrian water treatment works project is set to hit a host of new construction landmarks despite coronavirus challenges.

Defra to bolster water protection targets within Environment Bill

The long-awaited Environment Bill will enshrine protection for waterways that may include new PCC targets, changes to abstraction licences, review of agricultural and wastewater pollutants that enter waterways.

Displaced ‘Class of 2020’ to be at heart of Northumbrian innovation festival

Dry weather forces Southern to prepare for drought permit

Southern Water is preparing to apply for a drought permit to allow it to continue abstracting water from a chalk stream after prolonged dry weather lowered the flow of the Hampshire river. Nigel Hepworth, water resources policy manager at Southern, told Utility Week that enhanced reliance on drought permits was “not a great position to be in” but said there was no “quick fix” to the problem.

SVT trial could reduce size of treatment works

Bin the Wipe campaign drives down blockages by 61 per cent

Water networks overwhelmed by extreme weather

Southern sets out holistic approach to leakage

Water companies unite for virtual hackathon

Three water companies are coming together to share data and develop ideas on how to help their customers use less water and save money. At a virtual hackathon Anglian, SES and Welsh Water are hoping to make progress on key challenges for the sector

Bevan: Time to ‘carefully’ reform Water Framework Directive

Annual water survey finds low awareness of social tariffs

Agriculture Bill could be ‘game-changing’ for catchment management

The Agriculture Bill has the potential to transform catchment management by water companies, landowners, farmers and other stakeholders with subsidies available for farmers who employ environmental land management, according to Anglian Water's head of public affairs Daniel Johns.

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.

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.

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.