13 Apr 2022
07 Apr 2022
Ofwat consults on Innovation Fund approach for 2022-25
Main changes to existing approach: 1. A new annual £4 million competition for early-stage ideas direct to innovators. We propose to allocate a portion of funding (about £4 million a year) to a new competition focused on enabling and supporting earlier stage idea development. This new competition will target primarily innovators and not require a […]
31 Mar 2022
Strategic policy statement for Ofwat published
Policy paper: The UK Government has published as final the Strategic Policy Statement (SPS) for Ofwat. The Strategic policy statement sets out the government’s priorities for Ofwat’s regulation of the water industry in England. Ofwat must carry out its functions in accordance with this statement. This is set out in Section 2A of the Water Industry Act […]
31 Mar 2022
Ofwat awards £5m to accelerate tech solutions to leaks, pollution and water quality
On World Water Day, the English and Welsh water regulator, Ofwat, has awarded £5.2m to innovative projects using new technology and cross-sector collaborations to improve water quality, reduce pollution and enhance services for consumers. Between now and the summer, the Water Breakthrough Challenge will award up to £39m to projects across England and Wales. The […]
10 Mar 2022
Five water companies targeted in Ofwat wastewater treatment work investigation
Ofwat has announced that it is opening enforcement cases into five water and wastewater companies as part of its ongoing investigation into how companies manage their wastewater treatment works. Anglian Water, Northumbrian Water, Thames Water, Wessex Water and Yorkshire Water have been served formal notices to gather further information for enforcement purposes. This follows analysis […]
03 Mar 2022
Environment Agency investigation into sewage treatment works
On 18 November 2021, the Environment Agency and Ofwat announced major investigations into potential widespread non-compliance by water and sewerage companies at sewage treatment works. Below is an update from the EA on progress: The investigations were launched after companies revealed to us that they may be in breach of their permit conditions. This issue […]
24 Feb 2022
David Black, Ofwat writes to the Chairs of Remuneration Committees for all regulated water and wastewater and water-only companies
The Government will know it has a problem when the Daily Telegraph starts an environmental campaign. This time it is about raw sewage discharges into rivers to mark the launch of its Clean Rivers Campaign. David Black – Ofwat To: Chairs of Remuneration Committees for all regulated water and wastewater and water-only companies, copied to […]
17 Feb 2022
SPS reactions from the water sector
Since publication of the SPS there has been a growing amount of commentary see below: Read the SPS here Angling Trust ‘Government Water Statement must overhaul ‘creaking and leaking’ sewage infrastructure The Government’s Strategic Policy Statement (SPS) for water, laid before Parliament today (February 2nd), urges water companies to do more to protect the environment. […]