Tue, May 05, 2026
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Regulation and Legislation

ROYAL COURTS OF JUSTICE LONDONRiver Action has been granted permission by the High Court to proceed with a legal challenge against water sector Ofwat for a full court hearing to challenge the approach the regulator took when it set the amounts that water companies can charge their customers at the 2024 Price Review.

HOUSE OF COMMONS BIG BENTwo new Water (Special Measures) Act measures came into force yesterday - water companies will now have to publish plans to reduce pollution incidents and address the use of nature-based solutions when managing wastewater.

PARLIAMENT TVThe House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee will hold the first evidence session of its inquiry into Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) – also known as ‘forever chemicals’ on Wednesday 25 June.

REGULATORS JOINT LETTER TO WATER COS IN ENGLANDDirectors at the Environment Agency, Defra and Ofwat have written to senior executives at all of the water companies in England to reaffirm their joint expectation that the companies should focus on delivering the commitments and investments set out in their water resources management plan (WRMP) “starting straight away.”

HOUSE OF COMMONS BIG BENThe Government will invest over £100 million in fines and penalties levied against water companies since October 2023 (as well as future fines and penalties) into local projects across the country to clean up rivers, lakes and seas.

Royal Courts of Justice 1Thames Water is facing the prospect of a Judicial Review over its proposals for a new reservoir at Abingdon in Oxfordshire when the High Court will hear the case on 25-26 June.

INFRASTRUCTURE UK INFRASTRUCTURE 10 YEAR STRATEGYThe government has today published its landmark 10 Year UK Infrastructure Strategy – the new approach to infrastructure will include vital reforms to ensure planning and delivery is joined up, backed by £725 billion in long-term funding for maintenance and major projects.

Environmental Audit Committee Chair Toby Perkins MP Committee Corridor podcastIs our water system broken? The latest episode of the Committee Corridor podcast out today sees Environmental Audit Committee Chair Toby Perkins sit down with leading water campaigner Feargal Sharkey to discuss the UK’s water woes, before hearing from the Chairs of Parliament’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Public Accounts committees about their work to investigate the issues besetting the water sector.

SUDS scheme Camley Street London 1The government is updating the national standards for Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) for the first time in a decade in a move to tackle water pollution and protect communities from flooding and water shortages.

RAPID Strategic Resource Options at PR24To address the forecast water shortfall of 5 billion litres per day by 2055 as outlined in the EA’s National Framework for Water Resources (NFWR), Ofwat says it is critical that we deliver new water supply infrastructure.

DROUGHTThe Environment Agency has published its drought plan guideline 2025 for water companies that are wholly or mainly in England - the companies are required to follow the guideline when preparing their drought plans. The drought plan guideline was last published in 2020. 

HOUSE OF COMMONS BIG BENThe Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee (EFRA) is shortly due to question Sir Jon Cunliffe, Chair of the Independent Water Commission in an evidence session starting at 10am this morning.

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