(by Karma Loveday) Defra has issued its first post White Paper consultation —  on the regulatory framework for sludge applied to agriculture. This follows campaigning from green groups on public health and environmental grounds (41% of England’s rivers suffer from agricultural pollution), and the Independent Water Commissions recommendation that the treatment, storage and use of sludge should be moved into the Environmental Permitting Regulations (EPR) 2016. At present, 94.4%

(by Karma Loveday) The investment that higher water charges will pay for was very much front and centre of this year’s annual bill announcement. Water UK said household water bills in England and Wales will rise by an average of 5.4% — around £33 a year, or approximately £2.70 per month — from April, to pay for £20bn of investment in upgrading water and wastewater infrastructure in 2026/27. The rise is two percentage points above December’s official inflation figure and tak

(by Karma Loveday) Defra and Ofwat have assured the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that PR29 will remain on track despite parallel work to create a new regulator. Ofwat’s interim chief executive Chris Walters said: “We need a clear idea by the end of this year of what the methodology for the next price review will look like. That is what we are aiming to include in the transition plan, which we are expecting in March.” He explained: “It took us around 15 months of analysis,

(by Karma Loveday) More of the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) key guidance documents will need approval from the secretary of state under plans out for consultation from the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). The Department is running a consultation until 31 March on Refining our competition regime. It said the aim is to “ensure the framework continues to promote effective competition, support economic growth, and deliver benefits for consumers and businesses

(by Karma Loveday) Thames Water has issued a £5.7bn tender for a Main Works Contractor for its newly renamed White Horse Reservoir in Abingdon, Oxfordshire – formerly known as SESRO. The contractor will design, plan and build the new facility that will supply water locally and onwards to London and Hampshire, including excavation, building embankments and laying pipelines. Thames is hosting an online applicant briefing on 11 February. Interested organisations have until 24 Ap

(by Karma Loveday) Defra has published Global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security –  a strategic assessment of how global nature depletion could affect the UK’s resilience, security and prosperity. This finds that the critical ecosystems that support major global food production areas and impact global climate, water and weather cycles are the most important for UK national security. We are at high risk of exposure to these impacts and at high risk of

(by Karma Loveday) Ofwat is consulting until 18 February on changing the market codes to introduce a Cost Recovery Mechanism (CRM) and Cashflow Support Tool (CST), and associated guidance, designed to strengthen the Interim Supply Arrangements. This is to protect customers when a retailer collapses or otherwise unexpectedly leaves the market. In July 2024, the regulator decided to allow retailers to recover efficiently incurred costs where they act as interim supplier, to mak

(by Karma Loveday) Arup is to take full ownership of its EnTrade joint venture with the YTL UK Group. The nature recovery marketplace started out as an independent business of Wessex Water in 2018. Last February, Wessex parent YTL entered partnership with Arup. Now, Arup is to take full control, with the EnTrade team —  including its pioneering managing director Guy Thompson — standing down. Arup said it plans to establish EnTrade's Environmental Markets Board, which provide

(by Karma Loveday) Scottish Water is to increase charges by 8.67% in nominal terms for the 2026/27 charging year, starting on 1 April. The average household combined bill will rise by £3.50 a month, or £42 a year, to £532 a year, which the company pointed out is still among the lowest in the UK. The rise is within WICS’ final determination range for the 2021-27 period, which allows an increase of  CPI+12.6% over the six years. Scottish Water held charges below inflation from

(by Karma Loveday) Tom Gordon, Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, led a lively Westminster Hall debate last week on the enforcement of the Water (Special Measures) Act. The thrust of his case was that while the Act promised to clamp down on undeserved executive bonuses and poor service, the reality has proved different: “In the months since its introduction, we have seen companies complying with the letter of the law while confidence continues to drain away.