A new research paper published by the World Bank suggests that consumers in China would be willing to pay up to 3% of their annual income continuously over a five year period to improve water quality. It could also provide some useful pointers on issues the water companies will need to address in the stakeholder engagement Ofwat now wants them to undertake in the upcoming AMP6 business planning process.
The 2011 World Water Week in Stockholm closed today with assembled participants supporting a "Stockholm Statement to the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro (Rio+20 Summit)".
Green Cross International, the environmental NGO founded by Mikhail Gorbachev, is calling for all Governments to ratify the global watercourse convention to help address the world’s worsening water crisis and avert future catastrophes.
The UN is warning that the current failure to invest in water services and to collect, treat and re-use water efficiently, is exacerbating water shortages in many parts of the world and contributing to a situation where global demand for water could outstrip supply within 20 years.
Global paper manufacturer UPM has published the results of a pilot study for paper’s water footprint in cooperation with the Water Footprint Network.
International law firm Eversheds is warning that the proposals to charge utility companies who undertake streetworks at peak times could lead to higher water bills.
World Water Week has opened in Stockholm with a keynote debate on the 2011 theme, "Responding to Global Changes - Water in an Urbanising World".
Transport Secretary Philip Hammond is due to announce that councils may be allowed to charge utilities to dig up roads at peak traffic times in an effort to reduce traffic congestion.
WWF has welcomed the publication on Friday of the UK Government’s vision and framework for a green economy, but called for greater urgency and action to shift the UK economy onto a more sustainable path.
The EU is making around €7bn available in its latest call for research proposals focuses on innovation and getting good ideas to market. The funding is part of the €53bn available through the current research funding programme for 2007 to 2013.
UK water companies are invited to join an upcoming webinar which will explore how the sector can take indirect potable reuse (IPR) from concept to full-scale operational reality.
James Sumsion, CEO of predictive water intelligence specialists Kohtari, says the water sector needs to take a giant leap forward, so that it can anticipate and act upon water quality issues - rather than merely react.
Ray Moulds, Sales Director at Flood Control International, takes a look at how automated sliding floodgates are supporting secondary containment at water and sewerage company sites.
With the UK government demanding a 50% reduction in storm overflow spills by 2029, the era of reactive management is over. Speaking in the House of Commons on 21 July 2025, then environment secretary Steve Reed said, “This Government will cut water companies’ sewage pollution in half by the end of the decade.”