The Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published the Water Resources Management Plan Direction 2012 for England and Wales which comes into force today.
The decision by the Competition Commission at the end of May to approve the acquisition by South Staffordshire plc of Cambridge Water PLC - the first time it has given its unconditional approval under the water special merger regime – has flagged up some interesting possibilities for future developments in the sector.
Water industry regulator Ofwat has published new guidance and deadlines for the water companies regulatory reporting requirements.
The Infrastructure Planning (Waste Water Transfer and Storage) Order amending Section 14 of the Planning Act 2008 has been presented to the Grand Committee of the House of Lords, with universal endorsement.
WWF has backed a call by the Environmental Audit Committee for the Government to show leadership on the green economy, rather than viewing environmental measures as a barrier to growth.
Alan Sutherland, Chief Executive of the Water Industry Commission for Scotland, has struck a note of caution about adopting the structures of other markets to the water sector, warning that "water is not oil, or any of the other commodities that lend themselves easily to trading on spot and futures markets."
The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee is warning that the Government's strategy to create a green economy is too focused on voluntary action and fails to set a clear trajectory or any time-bound milestones for businesses to achieve. The MPs want the Government to develop minimum sustainability standards with stakeholders and businesses
Ofwat's director of policy and communication Marian Spain has said that opening the water sector up to competition for business customers would result in “a lot less need for regulation on price” and that if water companies can help businesses better “it will help all of us.”
The publication today by UK water industry regulator Ofwat of its Future price limits – statement of principles paper has flagged up the potential for far-reaching changes with significant implications for the way the UK water companies do business in future.
Water industry regulator Ofwat says the water and sewerage sectors need to make a step change in innovation if they are to meet the challenges of ever rising customer expectations, population growth and climate change.
Water industry regulator Ofwat has published a new paper on the provision of retail services to non-household customers by water retailers in England and Wales which highlights the Scottish water market as the most useful comparison.
Water industry regulator Ofwat has published a new report outlining measures the UK water companies will need to put in place for resilience planning. The report suggests that resilience planning is key to climate change adaptation by the sector.
South West Water has hosted the first municipal trial of the Fournier Rotary Press in the UK, assessing its potential to improve sludge dewatering performance and support future biosolids standards.
Uniwater has acquired Hy-Ram Engineering, a specialist in tooling, products and hire for the water sector, based in Mansfield, England.
Enpure Ltd and Clean TeQ Water Ltd have announced a collaboration agreement to bring Clean TeQ Water's Moving Bed Ion Exchange-based nutrient removal technologies to water utilities across the UK.
Near-real-time microbial monitoring of wastewater discharge and bathing waters is now possible thanks to the BactoSense ID solution created by Swiss-based bNovate Technologies.