The Chair of the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee.(EFRA ) has this morning written to the CEOs of United Utilities and South West Water (SWW) to raise the Committee’s serious concerns over the recent incidents involving sewage being illegally pumped into Lake Windermere, and the parasite outbreak in the water network in Devon.

Ofwat has launched a consultation on its proposals to release Thames Water from binding commitments and undertaking resulting from the competition investigation it opened in June 2019 after allegations that the water company was abusing its dominant position to harm competition in the business retail market.

 Deeply concerning’ failures to properly implement regulations designed to protect rivers, lakes and coastal waters in England mean key targets for improvement will be missed, a 180 page detailed and highly critical report by the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has found.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has found Pennon’s purchase of Sumisho Osaka Gas Water UK (including its subsidiary Sutton and East Surrey Water), could harm Ofwat’s ability to make comparisons between water companies and carry out its statutory functions.

The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee will revisit its landmark inquiry into fast fashion tomorrow, in a live evidence session exploring the sustainability of the UK fashion industry.

Ofwat is reminding the wider water sector that today is the final day to comment on its plans for the Ofwat Innovation fund 2025-30 over the next price review period 2025-30. Deadline to submit comments to the consultation, which launched on 6^th March, is 11.59pm this evening.