The Institution of Civil Engineers says that the introduction of a proposed new ‘water shares’ system which would see all licensed water extractors own a share in their local water catchment, could create a sense of mutual responsibility to preserve water supplies and incentivise trading of water during droughts.

Lord Chris Smith, Chairman of the Environment Agency, told delegates at CIWEM’s Annual Conference this week that extreme weather is “the number one challenge facing the nation.”

Ferrovial Agroman, Ferrovial’s construction subsidiary, has been chosen by electric utility Endesa to undertake the civil engineering work for the Los Cóndores hydroelectric plant in Chile in a contract worth $250 million – around £170 million.

The Welsh Assembly has launched a new consultation on its Water Strategy for Wales – which includes proposals for universal metering and realigning the existing regulatory boundaries for water and sewerage with the geographical border between Wales and England.