Ofwat has written to the water and wastewater companies setting outs its guidance on how it expects each company to design its public sewerage system to deliver best value for consumers over the long term.

Water companies would face targets to help customers save more than 23 million litres of water a day (Ml/d), under new proposals published by Ofwat.

Ofwat has launched a consultation into the regulatory issues arising from the change of ownership of Yorkshire Water.

Nearly 12 months on since unprecedented rainfall led to widespread flooding in England and parts of Wales, the Environment Agency has completed 34 flood defences to increase protection to more than 30,000 homes and signed up 73,000 more people to its free flood warning service.

Ofwat has published a position paper on water charges and company profits.