Thames Water has laid over half of a new £46 million transfer pipeline connecting west Guildford’s water supply to the east as part of the water company’s £93.1 million network boost.

Ahead of the launch of its new Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP), Affinity Water has set out its plans to invest in a multi-million-pound scheme to bring new water supplies down from the Midlands to its Central supply region and into the Home Counties.

Yorkshire Water has begun laying a temporary water pipe over moorland to transfer water from Calderdale to the Worth Valley – the utility is also applying to the Environment Agency for a number of drought permits for reservoirs in North West Yorkshire.

Ofwat has confirmed its backing for nine water companies to progress with the investigation of innovative ideas and partnerships to help bring water to the drier parts of the country as part of a £500 million programme.

The Government has launched a consultation on the draft National Policy Statement (NPS) on water resources infrastructure in England which flags up the potential need for more reservoirs, transfer schemes and desalination plants.