(by Karma Loveday) Ofwat has approved draft funding to enable a five-fold expansion of the capacity of the Havant Thicket reservoir, and recognised that the forecast operational date needs to be pushed back from 2029 to 2034 to accommodate changes to the original design. Under the regulator’s decision, which is out for consultation until 12 October, the original allowed totex of £339m would be increased to £823m, under the second cost adjustment mechanism (CAM2) to the Havant

(by Karma Loveday) Water-related disruption has caused companies $1.4bn of financial impact, and they anticipate a further hit of almost $400bn from climate disruption costs, regulatory risks and new capex requirements. That is the message from Water, trade and capital: how water is reshaping geopolitics, supply chains and financial risk – analysis of disclosures on water from 6,500 companies from environmental disclosure specialist CDP. $45bn of the $400bn is expected to occ

(by Karma Loveday) Rain alone is a poor predictor of when and where bacterial contamination will hit coastal waters. That’s according to research by Plymouth Marine Laboratory, published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin. The findings challenge assumptions built into existing water quality forecasting, and suggest there is untracked risk to public health from swimming/recreation and shellfish production. The work combined water sampling with advanced computer modelling to tr

(by Karma Loveday) Starting a major desalination plant upgrade forms the keystone of Jersey Water’s business plan for 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2027, the second year of its strategy to 2030. The £26m upgrade will increase the plant’s output by 50%, as part of the company’s adaptation to a changing climate as evidenced by this year’s prolonged hot weather. It marks the company’s biggest investment for 35 years. Other priorities in the plan include continuing preparations

(by Karma Loveday) South Staffordshire Group chief executive Charley Maher will leave the business, and the water sector, at the end of October to take up post as chief executive of Bristol Airport. Mick Horn, currently group chief financial officer, will take on the responsibilities of group CEO alongside his CFO responsibilities while a permanent successor is sought. Barry Hayward, chief commercial officer, will move into the new role of interim chief operating officer. WS

(by Karma Loveday) Thames Water has launched three new initiatives to help businesses save water and money, as it marked the milestone of more than half of all non-household meters in its area now using smart technology. The company is currently fitting around 2,000 business smart meters a month, and has installed over 90,000 smart meters in all to its 170,000 non-household metered customer base. The new initiatives, which together are projected to save 16m litres of water a

(by Karma Loveday) Fire chiefs have warned of growing risks to public safety from insufficient water supplies. In a new position statement on Water Supplies for Firefighting, the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) urged that water for firefighting to be recognised as a critical public safety requirement. It also argued that fire and rescue services should be formally recognised as key stakeholders in the future regulation and planning of the water sector. This followed resea

(by Verity Mitchell) United Utilities (UU) has issued a pre-close trading statement confirming its guidance for the current year to March 2027. It remains on track to deliver £2bn of capital investment and continues to target regulatory return in the range of 10-11%. Management has responded to Ofwat’s cost change decision, seeking additional support for investment to enhance network resilience, provide additional water and wastewater services to the North West and enable eco

(by Karma Loveday) A strike ballot will open today, running until 19 October, for Ofwat staff who are members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) trade union. This is an escalation of a dispute that has arisen because of lack of clarity for Ofwat workers since the Cunliffe Commission recommended, and Government accepted, that the regulator should be abolished, as a key plank of the water reform agenda. PCS called for: Retention of civil service status and rights. No r

(by Karma Loveday) As the Labour Party conference continues in Liverpool this week, ministers are expected to set out more thinking on ‘public control’ and how water should be run and financed, as part of an agenda to drive long-term public good from essential services. Mayoral control / public benefit companies / public ownership: A potential frontrunner policy is that turf rolled in The Telegraph a couple of weeks ago: that nine new regional bodies will be created (as prop