(by Karma Loveday) Defra has reappointed Iain Coucher as Ofwat chair. His second term began on 1 October and will run “until the new integrated water regulator is established, and no later than 30 June 2029”. This suggests Ofwat could remain in operation for some time. Defra said: "During the transition to the new integrated regulator, Ofwat will remain fully operational and retain its existing legal powers while collaborating closely with Defra and partner agencies.” Ofwat h

(by Verity Mitchell) RSK Group has published its annual report and consolidated financial statements for the period from 7 April 2025 to 5 April 2026. It reported a 10.3% increase in revenue to £2,472m. Water now represents 43.3% of revenues, growing by 25% year-on-year. Reported EBITDA growth of 24.2% to £152,1m showed increased operational leverage, with a 30 basis points margin increase to 11.4%. Its adjusted EBITDA, which reflects pro forma adjustments for acquisitions, a

(by Karma Loveday) Activists River Action and Watershed Investigations have challenged the system that governs trade effluent, following a joint investigation. This is waste handled by water companies from industrial customers such as factories, power stations, pharmaceutical plants, hospitals, abattoirs and waste facilities. The criticisms covered two principle points: Risk of environmental harm – industrial waste can include substances such as PFAS, solvents, flame retarda

(by Karma Loveday) Water UK has offered its support to policies out for consultation on empowering mayors to decide on planning applications – and has urged that overtly aligning spatial planning with water and wastewater infrastructure capacity will be essential to unlock economic growth. Water UK was responding to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s (MHCLG) Planning powers for mayors in England consultation, on implementing the English Devolution and

(by Karma Loveday) A new Flood and Drought Resilience Taskforce will meet for the first time on Wednesday, with an express commitment to champion community voices and strengthen the nation’s ability to plan for and respond to extreme weather. The new taskforce will bring floods and drought minister Emma Hardy together with representatives from more than 50 organisations, including the Environment Agency, Met Office, Mayoral authorities, the Fire and Rescue Services, and the f

(by Karma Loveday) The Environment Agency (EA) issued a drought permit to South West Water (SWW) relating to its Wimbleball Reservoir, as the company in parallel applied to Defra for a Non-Essential Use Ban (NEUB). Wimbleball in Exmoor serves 390,000 people, and was at 18% capacity on 4 October following this summer’s prolonged hot, dry weather. This time last year it was at 30% capacity. The permit temporarily allows South West Water to pause normal compensation flow to the

(by Verity Mitchell) Pennon Group’s share price had fallen 19.9% to a 15-year low five days after a £550m rights issue and the announcement of a strategic review in which chief executive Keith Haslett outlined a “self-help” plan to right-size the group. Just six months into his tenure, Haslett’s review amounts to an indictment of the current state of the group. Among the key problems he identified were a lack of performance culture, an investment strategy not linked to perfor

(by Karma Loveday) Water UK has set out three concerns with Ofwat’s draft determinations on the 2026 cost change process, despite welcoming the additional proposed investment of £3.4bn. The trade body noted the allowance will support housing and growth, and has successfully demonstrated that new investment can be flexibly unlocked outside of the five-yearly price review cycle. But its concerns were: Certain expenditure areas have been ruled out of scope "for no good reason”.

(by Karma Loveday) Beers and soft drinks giant Carlsberg Britvic has launched a landmark ten-year partnership with The Rivers Trust to invest in nature-based projects to help restore rivers, wetlands and floodplains near its Rugby manufacturing site. The projects will be delivered by Severn Rivers Trust. The partnership will support the delivery of multiple projects across the Warwickshire Avon catchment, 15 miles from the site, including on local rivers such as the Leam, and

(by Karma Loveday) Ardingly Reservoir, which serves 228,000 customers in Haywards Heath and the surrounding areas in Sussex, has moved further into drought, triggering the next level of response in South East Water’s Drought Plan. At the end of last week, it was only 22.8% full, but not all of that is usable due to sediment and the location of the draw-off tower. The Environment Agency granted the drought permit South East Water applied for on 28 August on 29 September. But i