Other stories from last week

(by Karma Loveday)

Leading environmental and nature-friendly farming organisations, including River Action, Nature-Friendly Farming Network, The Rivers Trusts, Surfers Against Sewage, Wildlife and Countryside Link, WWF-UK, Wildfarmed, RSPB and the Soil Association, have written to the environment secretary calling for urgent government action to tackle agricultural water pollution. They pointed out that agriculture is now recognised as a significant a source of water pollution, along with sewage. The groups warned that without decisive action, the Government will fail to meet its pledge to clean up rivers.

Thames Water has opened applications for 145 apprenticeships, offering new starters and career changers college and degree level apprenticeships, including in roles in engineering, project management, HGV driving, finance, repair and maintenance, data analytics and laboratory science. All Thames Water apprentices are guaranteed employment once they successfully complete their qualification.

One of the Office for Environmental Protection’s non executive directors, Julie Hill, has been appointed interim chair for up to four months while a permanent chair is found. This follows the departure of the watchdog’s inaugural chair, Dame Glenys Stacey. 

Water minister Emma Hardy has signalled support for “Ofwat’s plan to consult on requiring companies to report publicly the details of all executive remuneration”. She was responding to discussion in the Commons last week on “Water company executives: undisclosed payments,” in which MPs criticised payments to executives by parent rather than regulated companies, thus avoiding Special Measures Act controls. 

Anglian Water has issued a £1.5bn tender notice for a Major Projects Framework to deliver environmental protection and improvements. The first projects will include the £400m AMP8 coastal water improvement package, to reduce storm spills and bacteriological factors impacting coastal waters. 

British Water’s Water Industry Forum has appointed three new non-executive directors to its board: the Women’s Utilities Network’s Karen Anderson; Baringa’s James Piggott; and Southern Water’s Tania Flasck.

Welsh Water’s managing director of water services, capital delivery and asset planning Ian Christie will join Pennon Group on 4 May in the newly-created role of chief asset officer. The company said this reflects an intensifying focus on asset management and asset health. 

RAPID has approved a request from South East Water to delay its Gate Two submission for the Broad Oak reservoir until 30 September 2026. 

South East Water has lifted the hosepipe ban that has been in place for customers in parts of Kent and Sussex since July. Recent heavy rain has helped recharge resources. 

The Government has published a revised Green Book, incorporating the Environmental Principles Policy Statement, biodiversity duties and legally-binding Environment Act targets. The Green Book  sets out government guidance on how to appraise proposals ignorer to achieve government objectives. It is used in policy making across government.

Following consultation in July 2025, Ofwat has now published its final Climate Change Principles, to guide company responses to climate change. It said the principles-based approach recognises companies’ varying circumstances, whilst promoting high standards and consistency. 

In a letter to all business retail market participants, Ofwat has said “it is for companies – wholesalers and retailers – to consider how to operationalise the legislative requirements the Guaranteed Standards Scheme (GSS) places on them”. This followed questions from the market following the Government’s update of the GSS scheme, which came into force in October 2025 – such as how certain regulations should work in practice, and on the relative responsibilities of wholesalers and retailers. Ofwat said wholesalers and retailers might agree protocols to support consistent and fair operation of the standards, and could contact Defra to highlight any issues with the regulations should they wish. Ofwat added that GSS payments to compensate customers “are distinct and separate” from Market Performance Framework charges designed to drive improved performance in the market.