Other stories from last week

(by Karma Loveday)

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee and Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) have endorsed the appointment of Dame Helen Ghosh as chair of the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP). A pre-appointment hearing was held last week. In a joint report, the MPs noted: “It is essential that Dame Helen continues to reinforce her and the OEP’s independence from Government, given our concerns about the timing and nature of the recruitment process. Dame Helen must also continue to build and improve relationships with key external stakeholders such as environmental groups and farmers, and further increase public awareness of the organisation.” The EAC had previously expressed concern that the advert for the role placed too much emphasis on promoting infrastructure development.

Matthew Parr has been promoted to CEO of Tideway London. He has served as deputy CEO since October 2024 and before that as director of strategy and regulation. 

MOSL CEO Sarah McMath was appointed to the Jersey Water board as non-executive director from 1 May. The company also announced that Roslyn Bullen-Bell, who is the island’s director of midwifery and nursing, has joined as female board apprentice for a year, as part of a Government of Jersey programme to build a pipeline of board‑ready professionals locally.

Lib Dem MPs Tim Farron, Sarah Dyke and Charlie Maynard last week presented the Water Regulation (No. 2) Bill to Parliament. The Bill seeks to: “Require the secretary of state to undertake a review of the circumstances in which a special administration order may be made in respect of a water company; to make provision about the content and application of special administration orders; to make provision for the mutualisation of a water company in respect of which a special administration order has been made; to abolish the Water Services Regulation Authority; to establish a Clean Water Authority and to make provision about its powers and duties; to make provision about the collection and publication by water companies of data relating to volume flow; to require water companies to offer a social tariff; and for connected purposes.” Second Reading is scheduled for 8 May.

The High Court has started to hear a legal claim filed in Autumn 2025 against Welsh Water and industrial chicken producer Avara Foods and its subsidiary Freemans of Newent for polluting the rivers Wye, Lugg and Usk. The community action case, supported by River Action, alleges that bacteria and nutrient pollution has resulted from sewage discharges and run off from farmland on which poultry manure has been spread as fertiliser.

Consultancy Economic Insight has expanded its senior team. Aastha Mantri, Ian Thompson and Christopher Pickard will join founders James Harvey and Sam Williams on the board, reflecting their long-standing contribution to the firm and its continued growth. The appointments coincide with Economic Insight’s 15-year anniversary in June.

Emma Causer starts work today as CIWEM’s new chief executive. She has over 25 years’ experience of working in high growth commercial environments and subscription businesses including BT and BSkyB. Her most recent role was as director of members and clients at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. 

Ofwat has published a guidance document on the third stage of its new combined Major Projects Programme, dealing with ‘development and commercial’ issues and requirements for Gate C submission. The programme comprises the 30 large-scale water infrastructure projects set out at PR24.

Southern Water pleaded guilty at Medway magistrates’ court to a series of pollution incidents across north Kent between 2019 and 2021, involving spills of sewage, sewage debris, diesel and waste matter at various times. The Environment Agency charged Southern Water with five offences, all contrary to regulations 12(1)(b) and 38(1)(a) of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016. A date for sentencing is yet to be confirmed.

Thames Water has signed a 13-month contract with start-up Origin Tech to source water leaks using AI-powered technology, following several months of successful trials. Origin Tech uses AI-driven satellite data to identify potential underground water leaks within a 30-metre search radius. Thames said this offers a faster and more accurate solution than traditional detection methods.

Affinity Water has reported restoring nearly 2km of the River Beane in Hertfordshire in a project spanning 2016-25. The project addressed the long-term impact of historic river structures, including weirs, that had altered natural flow and restricted fish movement for decades. The river has been realigned and reconnected to its flood plain, improving flow, reducing pressure during low water conditions and enhancing ecological performance.