Other stories from last week

(by Karma Loveday)

South West Water has become the latest company to introduce an area-wide hosepipe ban. From Saturday, the restriction applied to all customers in Devon, Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and parts of Dorset and Somerset. The company also applied for a drought permit on 20 July.

The House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee has found that Pet Parasite Medications (PPMs) are potentially causing widespread damage to aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. In a new report – “Paws for Concern: Pets, Parasites and Pollution” – the Committee argued “intensive and unnecessary overuse” of PPMs is not supported by robust scientific evidence. It also raised concerns about how the pet pharmaceutical industry “appears to be worryingly embedded within the regulatory and advice-setting frameworks”. 

Among the report’s recommendations was a ban on the general sale of off-the-shelf treatments for fleas and ticks, and for more data gathering on the PPM industry and its environmental impacts.

Retailer Wave has reported helping UK businesses save 10.4bn litres of water over the past five years, surpassing its target of 9.6bn litres by almost 1bn litres. The figure was announced as part of Wave’s 2025-26 Social and Sustainability Report. Lucy Darch, chief executive, said: “Efficiency isn't something we see as another business objective – it's fundamental to the way we think.”

United Utilities has been named one of the UK’s top 100 employers for apprenticeships, in the annual list published by the Government and career platform HIGHERiN to recognise organisations that provide outstanding apprenticeship opportunities and experience.

Yorkshire Water has appointed Egis to Lot 1 of an £80m framework, to provide specialist technical support in storm overflow mitigation, pollution reduction and asset health resilience. The contract will run until 2030, with options to extend for a further two years.