(by Karma Loveday) Utility Regulator (UR) is consulting until 24 July on Northern Ireland (NI) Water’s 2027/28 allowed revenue and price limits. This is an extension year to the original price control (PC21) timetable of 2021-2027, to allow more time to prepare the next full review. UR said its proposals were “primarily based on a roll-forward of the allowance set for the original final year of PC21 (2026/2027)” to keep things as simple as possible. However, it has agreed NI

(by Karma Loveday) Businesses are leaving themselves exposed to risk by concentrating their water resilience activities on long-term stewardship, but neglecting to put equal emphasis on how to maintain continuity in the short term during a supply disruption. That’s according to a new paper from alternative water provider Water Direct and facilities management giant Mitie. From stewardship to continuity: reframing water resilience for business leaders champions a “dual water r

(by Karma Loveday) Hazardous and persistent chemical flame retardants (CFRs) were found in most English rivers, and at unsafe levels in all wildlife samples scrutinised, in new analysis of Environment Agency and water industry data by The Rivers Trust and Wildlife and Countryside Link. The findings included: PBDE (Polybrominated diphenyl ethers) flame retardants were banned in 2004 but were found at unsafe levels in freshwater and marine fish at every site tested. They were a

(by Verity Mitchell) Broker Bernstein recommended two UK companies – United Utilities and Severn Trent – as 'top picks’ given the UK’s 'major capex super cycle’. Bernstein gave both Severn Trent and United Utilities an ‘outperform’ rating - Severn Trent with a target of 3,370p (current 2,894p) and United Utilities at 1,420p (1,305p). It rated Pennon Group at 600p (463p), “market-perform”. The AMP8 programme is worth £104bn, and Bernstein reminded investors that the National A

(by Karma Loveday) With a heatwave set to return to many parts of the country this week, the National Drought Group has cautioned that the risk of drought this year has risen after a dry spring in southern England. Thanks to an exceptionally wet winter, water resources overall remain in a relatively healthy position – but some areas are already feeling the impact of drier conditions. Reservoir storage is currently 88.6%, with chalk groundwater levels generally normal. River f

(by Karma Loveday) Unison’s Water, Environment and Transport (WET) service group conference in Brighton last week passed a number of motions to oppose the Government’s White Paper on water sector reform. A key one was to oppose any proposals to “fragment, dismantle or carve up the EA.” The union said there was no clarity whether the proposed changes “will affect 400 or 4,000 jobs” as these are prised out of the Agency and subsumed into a new water regulator. “This is the bigg

(by Verity Mitchell) Andy Burnham's victory in the Makerfield by-election has re-ignited the debate on water ownership. However, what he has conspicuously not said is that the entire water sector should be taken into public ownership. He has stated: “Public ownership is absolutely an option… I would say for Thames Water that is what should be done.” During the by-election he said: “If you look at water as an industry as a whole, it’s run predominantly in the private interest

(by Karma Loveday) British Water has opened its 2026 Water Company Performance Survey. Contractors, consultants and suppliers are invited to rate their water company clients across 12 key areas, including innovation, professionalism, contractual approach and communication. The survey is open until 10 July: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BW2026WaterCompanyPerformanceSurvey Arup and The Rivers Trust have formed a strategic partnership to focus on scaling nature-based solutions

(by Karma Loveday) The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has urged that further regulatory mergers be considered to help businesses that currently struggle navigating a complex and burdensome regulatory landscape. In a cross-sector report, Regulating for growth, the Committee cited regulatory uncertainty adding to costs and delays for business through unpredictable timelines, unclear interpretations of rules and opaque enforcement thresholds. It highlighted that in areas such a

(by Karma Loveday) Regulators’ work to support customers in vulnerable circumstances needs to step up to keep pace with the scale of need. That message came from the National Audit Office (NAO) last week, in a report on the help available to those who need extra support across the water, energy and broadband sectors. The NAO noted distinct improvements from the watchdogs since its 2019 report on a similar subject – for instance through encouragement, enforcement and licence