Ofwat has confirmed its provisional decision to accept binding commitments by Thames Water to address competition concerns the regulator had identified during its investigation into the water company’s introduction of smart water meters at business premises.

Almost nine in ten storm overflows now have monitoring devices providing vital information about their use to hold water companies to account and drive environmental protections, new data published by the Environment Agency shows.

Wessex Water has set out its vision and priorities for a cleaner, more sustainable future – and told the Government that a new approach to regulation is needed if it wants to meet its bold commitment to improve the environment within a generation.

New plans unveiled by the Government today would see water companies face strict limits on when they can use storm overflows and must completely eliminate the ecological harm any storm sewage discharges cause to the environment and significantly reduce discharges to protect public health.

The water companies are calling for greater clarity on the government’s overall priorities and targets for the water sector – according to Water UK, “without more clarity on the specific goals the government wants delivered, there is a high likelihood that vital investment will be deferred in favour of short-term pressures.”

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Natural England has launched a new consultation on new, long-term environmental targets announced by the government.

Ofwat has agreed to adjust the licence of Thames Tideway Tunnel, to ensure that the project can be completed after it was severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and historically low interest rates.

Ofwat has published its Final Public Value Principles aimed at helping to guide water companies to create more social and environmental value in the course of delivering their core services.