Other stories from last week

The Public Accounts Committee will take evidence on water sector regulation today, from 3.30pm. The witnesses are the leaders of Ofwat, Defra, the Environment Agency, Water UK and CCW, along with regulatory economics expert John Earwaker. 

Ahead of this week’s Spending Review, multiple campaigners coordinated by River Action have written to the prime minister and chancellor, demanding the Government increase funding to Defra and fully resource the regulators tasked with cleaning up Britain’s rivers, lakes, and seas. They warned that Labour’s credibility on environmental protection is on the line if Defra’s budget is cut.

Wessex Water has made £500,000 of funding available across AMP8 to four nature schemes, under its long-running Partners Programme. £100,000 per year will be shared by the Upper Tone 360 project, the Dorset Wild Rivers Scheme, Glorious Cotswold Grasslands, and the Wessex Rivers Trust’s Our Healthy Headwaters scheme.

Business Stream has appointed Kate Allum as a non-executive director. Allum has three decades of experience in sustainability, operations and strategic transformation. She is currently chair of the University of the West of Scotland, non-executive director at The Co-op, and chair of The Wild Water Group.

Waterwise has launched a brand new individual membership option. For an introductory launch price of £20 a year, individuals can join the water saving community and access benefits including information and resources, event invitations and product discounts.  

South Staffordshire Water has appointed David Brown to the newly created role of transformation director. He has 20 years experience, including with major utilities.

The British Standards Institution has published new guidance on accurately assessing microplastic pollution in domestic water, freshwater, seawater, treated wastewater and untreated wastewater. ISO 5667-27 offers organisations, researchers and environmental agencies a tool to enhance environmental monitoring, policy development, and water treatment processes.

Anglian Water has signed a contract with its Strategic Pipeline Alliance – which comprises Costain, Farrans, Jacobs and Mott MacDonald Bentley –  to deliver an additional 260km of interconnecting pipeline that branches into new areas in the East of England, taking the total length of the strategic pipeline to 580km. This will enable the transfer of water from ‘wetter’ parts of the Anglian region in North Lincolnshire to ‘drier’ parts, including Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex. 

Liberal Democrats in the Scottish Parliament have called for a Clean Water Act to deal with sewage discharges in Scotland. MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton cited research showing thousands of complaints from members of the public about sewage, as well as insufficient monitoring. He added: “Last week, Thames Water got fined £100m for sewage dumping, but there are never any consequences here in Scotland. Is that because the first minister knows that it is his Government that is at fault for this absolutely honking problem?” First minister John Swinney chastised him for comparing publicly owned Scottish Water with Thames.

England has now experienced the driest Spring since 1893. May rainfall was only 57% of the long-term average and reservoir levels are at 77%. However, early June rain is helping to stabilise the position. That’s according to the National Drought Group, which met last week and will now meet monthly. Drought has already been declared in the North West, and four other areas – the North East, Yorkshire, and East and West Midlands – are also experiencing prolonged dry weather. 

No water companies currently plan to impose hosepipe bans but this may change if dry weather continues. Separately last week, the Environment Agency published an updated policy paper: Drought – How it is managed in England.

Scottish Water has made an improved pay offer following a third round of strike action by Unite, GMB and Unison members last week. A spokesperson for Scottish Water said: “After three days of talks with the joint trade unions, we made an improved pay offer that would see average wages increase by more than 7% over two years. This included a minimum increase of £2,825 over the period. In addition, we also proposed a number of other enhancements including improved standby payments and carers’ leave. This is a very strong and progressive offer that balances the interests of our people and customers and we have asked the joint trade unions to ballot their members on the new proposal.”