A Newcastle company was fined £15,000 at Newcastle Upon Tyne Magistrates Court last week for a pollution offence at Dewley Burn.

The House of Commons Environmental Audit Select Committee has strongly criticised the Treasury for its failure to increase green taxes and introduce other measures to help reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change.

Water UK, the body which represents all UK water and wastewater service suppliers at national and European level, has stated its support for Environment Minister Phil Woolas advice to customers who pay an unmeasured water bill to check if they would benefit from having a water meter fitted.

A new website has been launched to show businesses what choices they have when the water sector opens up to competition on April 1.

Ofwat has published the report it commissioned from WRc plc, the independent research-based group which provides consultancy in the water, waste and environment sectors, including to government and regulatory bodies.

Ofwat yesterday published its guidance for companies on how it will go about setting price limits for customers' water and sewerage bills for five years from 2010-15. It takes account of responses to its consultation paper published last October.