Water industry regulator Ofwat has today launched a new consultation on its proposed approach to mergers under new rules, which aim to reduce barriers to companies merging which provide benefits to customers.

Ofwat Chief Eexcutive Cathyrn Ross has described Ofwat’s new risk-based approach with its focus on outcomes rather than outputs as brave, saying that the legitimacy of the sector and the regulatory regime was resting on it.

The water companies have introduced a new set of standards for the provision of water and sewerage infrastructure for new homes and other construction projects.

The Environment Agency has reported that last year, the English coast was the cleanest since records began, with 99.5% of swimming spots passing water quality tests compared to just 65% in 1988.

Environmental NGO Friends of the Earth is calling for legislation requiring all large companies to report on their use of natural resources, including land, water and materials and their carbon emissions.

Open Water has published the third draft iteration of the market architecture plan (MAP3) setting out in more detail the procedures  which will govern the interactions between wholesalers and retailers in the competitive retail market for non-household customers when it opens in April 2017.