Other stories from last week

(by Karma Loveday)

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee will take evidence on Tuesday from 9.30am on water ownership models, as part of its ongoing ‘Reforming the water sector’ inquiry. Witnesses include experts and academics from the UK and Europe, the European Investment Bank, Water UK and Veolia, which has previously expressed interest in running a publicly owned Thames Water. Details: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/52/environment-food-and-rural-affairs-committee/events/

Anglian Water has been fined £1.6m for repeated sewage pollution of the River Brain over six weeks in April-June 2022. The Environment Agency detected high levels of ammonia and the problem was traced back to a faulty valve at the Braintree water recycling centre. 

In its ninth wastewater investigation case, Ofwat is consulting until 6 November on accepting a £280,000 enforcement package from Hafren Dyfrdwy. The regulator said the company had breached its legal obligations in the operation of its wastewater treatment works and network, but was rectifying the situation. The shareholder-funded package included the installation of two storm water balancing tanks at Llansantffraid sewage pumping station to reduce spills, and support for the creation of a wetland habitat on the Llanfyllin Workhouse site by 2030. 

Had a penalty been in imposed, this would have cost £255,000, 3.5% of Hafren Dyfrdwy’s annual turnover, and would have gone to the Treasury.

Welsh Water is consulting with customers and stakeholders until 15 November on its strategy for the next 25 years. This builds on preliminary engagement undertaken over summer with 6,000 customers. Now the company is offering the chance to comment on the investment priorities set out in a draft strategy, which seeks to balance improvements to services and environmental performance with affordability, while also adapting to climate change and strengthening service resilience. Welsh Water will publish its final long-term strategy in January 2027.

Durham University is to lead a project studying how metals, sewage and other pollutants interact in rivers and whether this encourages drug-resistant bacteria, often called superbugs. The team will sample river systems in North East England and across India, ranging from clean to heavily polluted sites. They will track where resistance develops and how resistance genes move between bacteria, comparing findings with clinical bacteria to evaluate environmental impacts.

This Thursday (22 October) will be Water Night – when Waterwise invites households, schools, businesses and communities to pause unnecessary water use between 5pm and 10pm. This year’s theme is ‘Tap pause. Level up’, and brings a gaming-inspired twist to water saving, encouraging people to pause their usual routines, learn more about water and discover practical ways to use it more wisely. Landmarks across the country will be lit blue in support. For details, resources and to sign up, visit www.waterwise.org.uk/water-night-2026 

Future for Water, the team behind the annual Rivers Summit, has launched a new awards programme. The Impact Awards will recognise collaborations and partnerships that deliver real change for rivers as living ecosystems, not just as resources to manage. Entries could range from campaigns to community projects, small or large. There is £10,000 available in prize money, including a £5,000 first prize. Entries close on 23 October. For details and to apply, see https://www.theriversummit.com/future-for-water-impact-awards

The Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership has launched the Water Living Lab for Greater Cambridge – an initiative to bring together business, local government, academia and innovators to test practical solutions to water scarcity, flooding and pressure on the natural environment. The Lab will be a connected network of sites across Greater Cambridge, where organisations can develop, test and evaluate approaches to water management, generate shared evidence about what works, and accelerate successful solutions. It will explore solutions spanning water efficiency and demand reduction, water reuse, nature-based and sustainable drainage solutions, and smart and decentralised infrastructure. The longer-term aim is to demonstrate approaches that can be replicated beyond individual sites, and to help inform future investment, planning and policy.