(by Karma Loveday) The Welsh Government has set out how it expects Ofwat to support the delivery of water reform in Wales while continuing to deliver its core functions for Wales in the meantime. A new Strategic Priorities and Objectives Statement (SPS) has been issued, to supplement the existing 2022 SPS. Subject to agreement with UK Government around the devolution of further legislative competence and executive functions to Wales, the Welsh Government said there would be t

(by Karma Loveday) The ‘Glasgow Framework’ – a comprehensive new framework that seeks to address the structural barriers preventing investment in water and sanitation services globally – is out for consultation. It has been produced by Oxera, in partnership with the UK Host Country Committee for the International Water Association World Water Congress in Glasgow in October. Primarily aimed at national governments – but also at investors, practitioners and partners – the fram

(by Karma Loveday) The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) is to go beyond individual enforcement actions to work with South East Water (SEW) more systemically to improve water resilience for customers. That news came as the DWI published the findings of its investigation into the November/December 2025 incident which left 24,000 customers in Tunbridge Wells off supply. The Inspectorate found the loss of supply and subsequent boil water notice were foreseeable and preventable.

(by Karma Loveday) Inadequate communication is preventing some business customers from realising the full environmental and cost-saving benefits of smart meters. That’s according to research from the Consumer Council for Water (CCW). The watchdog sought views from a mix of large, small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) across England, including those that had recently received a smart meter and those awaiting an upgrade. It mapped the end-to-end journey from first contact wi

(by Karma Loveday) Water companies paid a record £8.5m towards environmental restoration projects though enforcement undertakings in 2025/26, the Environment Agency said – a 47% increase on the £5.8m paid in 2024/25 and four times the £2m paid in 2023/24. Over half (£4.6m - see table) was paid by Severn Trent, with the money given to local charities including the Trent Rivers Trust and Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust to improve catchments affected by wastewater pollution. The

(by Karma Loveday) Defra and Northern Ireland’s Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs have selected Dame Helen Ghosh as the preferred candidate to succeed Dame Glenys Stacey as chair of the Office for Environmental Protection . The environmental Select Committees will hold a joint pre-appointment scrutiny hearing and, if approved, Dame Helen will take up post on 1 June. Dame Helen has been Master of Balliol College, Oxford, since 2018 and her previous ex

(by Karma Loveday) The Environmental Audit Committee has launched a new inquiry to explore the Treasury’s role in environment and climate policy. Key areas of focus include whether the Government’s fiscal rules constrain environmental policy, and how the Treasury assesses the long-term economic risks presented by climate change and biodiversity loss. Specific questions the Committee intends to consider include: How fiscal rules and spending constraints affect investment in c

(by Verity Mitchell) CKI has reiterated its interest in purchasing Thames Water, having agreed to sell its UK Power Networks (UKPN) business to Engie in February. According to reports, CKI Infrastructure Holdings’ joint managing director Andy Hunter said the Thames board is “sleepwalking” into a bad deal for customers with the London & Valley Consortium. He stated that “the next owner of Thames Water should be an experienced, credible, long-term focused operator with the expe

(by Karma Loveday) Cross-party think tank Policy Connect, through the Westminster Sustainable Business Forum, is calling for evidence until 29 April for its fifth Bricks and Water inquiry , focused on water and housing. The specific focus of the latest inquiry is water resources and reuse, following the Cunliffe Review recommendations and Water White Paper policies. It seeks to build evidence and make recommendations to Government ahead of the forthcoming Water Bill on pract

(by Karma Loveday) 60% of all non-household water consumption in England now falls within regions the Environment Agency classifies as seriously water stressed. The most acutely stressed areas span much of the South and East of England, covering regions served by Thames Water, Anglian Water, South East Water and Affinity Water, where demand already outstrips available supply in dry years. That’s according to retailer Everflow. Its analysis of MOSL data highlighted a growing r