The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has published detailed new guidance for funding maintenance of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) in new developments in England.

Yorkshire Water is starting work this week on the first of 27 projects, totalling an investment of £73.5 million in the Rotherham area to reduce sewer discharges into watercourses across the region, with a new storm overflow project at Lord Street.

Thames Water has secured c£9.5 million in funding from Ofwat’s Water Innovation Fund for two pioneering innovation projects – the projects will test longer planned water outages for pipe repairs, to enhance mains replacement methods, and another project will support large-scale implementation of sustainable drainage systems alongside planned streetworks to help reduce flood risk.

The Environment Agency has published new guidance on building a business case for investment in multiple small sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) features over a wide area - known as the surface water investment model (SWIM) approach.

The Government’s first Land Use Framework for England says that by 2050 higher water quality in rivers and groundwaters, and fewer pollutants entering water courses from fields, roads and homes, will translate to lower treatment costs for water companies than they would otherwise be.

MPs are set to debate sustainable drainage systems in Westminster Hall at 1.50pm today - the topic for the debate has been chosen by the Backbench Business Committee.

Southern Water has gone out to tender with an AMP8 Sustainable Drainage and Habitat Restoration Framework worth an estimated £1.56 billion (inc VAT).

The Living with Water partnership has announced the next phase of its plans to reduce flood risk in Hull and the East Riding, marking a continuation of investment in long-term, sustainable water management.

Northern Ireland Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has launched a public consultation on Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) in new housing developments.

Southern Water has announced more new schemes to tackle storm overflows in Kent - Queenborough. Sittingbourne. Faversham. Herne Bay and Whitstable will all benefit from from multi-million-pound projects.