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.”

In an Expert Focus article for WaterBriefing, Steven Roberts, Principle data scientist & Hydrologist, KISTERS discusses why water quality monitoring is the next frontier for water utilities.

An innovative solution by Yorkshire Water and partners that uses AI models to provide continuous river water quality monitoring at multiple inland bathing water sites has been awarded £1.93 million in Ofwat’s Water Breakthrough Challenge competition.

The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee has today launched a new inquiry to address the risks of PFAS forever chemicals within the UK’s regulatory approach.

The Environment Agency has published detailed new guidance on automatic water sampling equipment used for monitoring treated discharges from wastewater treatment works, industrial processes, untreated wastewater and receiving waters under the MCERTS monitoring certification scheme.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Welsh Government have today launched a new consultation on proposals to reform the Bathing Water Regulations 2013.

Wessex Water has awarded an AMP8 framework contract for water quality monitoring for Urban Pollution Management (UPM) assessment - Storm Overflow Assessment Framework (SOAF) level 3-4.

A new study to investigate water quality at Ballyholme Beach in Bangor has been extended until February 2025 to better understand water pollution in the winter season.

David Harris, Managing Director of Water Services at South West Water, explains how the water company is continuing to learn lessons following the cryptosporidium outbreak in Brixham - one of the key lessons learnt is the importance of early detection.

King Charles' speech to Parliament this morning says the new Government will introduce a Water (Special Measures) Bill which includes strengthening Ofwat’s powers to ban the payment of bonuses if environmental standards are not met and strengthening regulation to ensure water bosses face personal criminal liability for lawbreaking.