(by Verity Mitchell) Affinity Water’s full-year results to March 2026 revealed operating profit up 125% to £74.7m from revenue of £438.3m, up 20.5%. Operating costs were lower than allowed revenues, up 9.7%, and household bad debt was lower. The loss after tax fell from £16.8m to £6.2m. Regulatory gearing has fallen from 77.5% to 69.1%, benefiting from the £150m equity injection delivered during the year which will support the board’s continuing commitment to maintain gearing

(by Verity Mitchell) Yorkshire Water has published full-year results for the year ending 31 March 2026. Revenue grew by 26.2% to £1,639.8m, driven by higher regulatory revenues. EBITDA grew by slightly more – 28% to £686.4m. Profit before tax, however, fell 73% from £429.6m to £113.8m, reflecting the higher interest costs of funding operations and growing investment with index-lined debt. Capex grew 11% to £989.8m. Yorkshire Water has a total capex programme of £8.3bn for AMP

(by Karma Loveday) Drinking water quality in England remained of super-high quality in 2025, at 99.97% compliance. Publishing the Drinking Water Inspectorate’s (DWI) 2025 annual report, chief inspector Marcus Rink urged that focus remain on keeping standards up as water is reformed. He said: “As the Government takes forward wider reforms through the Clean Water Bill and plans for a single water regulator, it is vital that focus remains on protecting public health and maintain

(by Karma Loveday) A number of water companies in the south and east announced temporary use bans last week, as England endured the third heatwave of the year following a dry Spring, and rivers and water supplies came under strain. Anglian Water issued a hosepipe ban on Friday (enforceable from 11 July), citing that it has been producing 30% more water than usual; that most regional rivers are below normal with some notably low or exceptionally low; and that reservoir storage

(by Verity Mitchell) Ofwat has formally accepted a package of undertakings from Severn Trent Water to ensure that the company returns to wastewater compliance. Ofwat’s investigation found that Severn Trent Water breached its duties, not only failing to provide drainage and deal with the contents of its sewers, but also not having adequate processes and systems to meet those duties. But Ofwat commended Severn Trent Water for proactively identifying and beginning to address pro

(by Karma Loveday) MoneySavingExpert founder Martin Lewis made the case for a universal social tariff in water when he gave evidence to the Public Accounts Committee last week on the ‘Regulation of water, energy and broadband.’ He said: “I do not understand why the Government did not universalise the social tariff. In my job, I always use this example: mass communication. How do you communicate? How, on my television show, do I explain a social tariff? I have to say, ‘If you’

(by Karma Loveday) Nearly two thirds (62%) of customers support the water smart meter rollout and only 12% are opposed, according to research from CCW. However, awareness that a rollout is underway is low. 64% do not recall seeing any information from their water company about having a smart meter installed in their property, and many are unclear on why smart metering is needed. There is low awareness of water stress and the role smart meters play in reducing demand on water

(by Karma Loveday) Water minister Emma Hardy has indicated that Defra may choose not to commence Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act. Responding to a written question in Parliament, she said the Government is committed to improving the implementation of sustainable drainage, and had already consulted on revising the National Planning Policy Framework. But: “Better delivery of SuDS may be achieved by continuing to improve the current planning policy-based approach

(by Karma Loveday) Water minister Emma Hardy has announced that the Flood Re scheme will be reformed to correct “a system in which average-income and low-income households are subsidising flood insurance for the richest households in the country”. Flood Re is subsidised by all households that buy insurance. The money is used to buy insurance for homes exposed to flooding, so premiums for those home owners remain affordable. Hardy said the scheme had been a success, but: “The

(by Karma Loveday) Wave has launched Water Efficiency Services (WES) – “a new neutral sub-brand created to accelerate progress towards the UK's long-term water efficiency goals”. Building on the success of Wave’s Active Water Management services in the business market, WES will reach beyond Wave’s non-household customer base to support wholesalers, retailers and third-party intermediaries to provide water-saving initiatives directly, to both household and business customers.