The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced the date for a public inquiry into Thames Water’s Water Resources Management Plan. The inquiry, which is expected to take place between 7 June 2010 to 8 July 2010, will also look at Thames Water's plans for its proposed £400M reservoir at Abingdon in Oxfordshire.
Although Thames Water put back its plan to build the reservoir from 2020 to 2026 in the light of revised downward demand forecasts, the company still intends pursue development of the scheme via the planning process to ensure that it can be activated when necessary.
The public inquiry into its Water Resources Management Plan is key to the process after Defra concluded that Thames had not provided “adequate justification” of its preferred options – including the reservoir - or the decision process in reaching that preferred programme of options.
The Planning Inspectorate’s initial estimate is that the inquiry could run for up to 12 days.
With the UK government demanding a 50% reduction in storm overflow spills by 2029, the era of reactive management is over. Speaking in the House of Commons on 21 July 2025, then environment secretary Steve Reed said, “This Government will cut water companies’ sewage pollution in half by the end of the decade.”
ERG, the leading supplier of odour control systems and industrial gas cleaning & thermal systems, has been awarded the coveted King’s Award for Enterprise.
Welsh Water’s new artificial intelligence-driven tool, ORAI, has been shortlisted for three categories at the prestigious British Data Awards 2026 – underscoring the company’s commitment to using cutting-edge technology to deliver better outcome for customers.
Barhale has completed work on two separate Rapid Action Taskforce Spills projects it is carrying out for Severn Trent.
Hear how Scottish Water has completed its £235 million Ayrshire Glasgow Resilience Project - customers across Greater Glasgow, Ayrshire and East Renfrewshire will now benefit from a more secure and resilient water supply.
Hear how United Utilities is accelerating its investment to reduce spills from storm overflows across the Northwest.
Find out more about the remarkable career opportunities on offer at WSP - scroll down to watch the inspirational video.