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Government, Policy & Regulation

Thames Water admits to £18.5m bonus payments despite new rules

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee has published a response from Sir Adrian Montague, Chair of Thames Water, which discloses that bonus payments...
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Consultation launched on Northern Ireland Climate Adaptation Programme

Northern Ireland's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has launched an eight week public consultation to seek views on the draft Third...
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Water sector regulation to be scrutinised by Public Accounts Committee

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will hold an evidence session on regulating the water sector at 3.30pm today (Monday 9 June, 2025). Consumer trust in...
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Philip Duffy writes to Ofwat regarding water industry category 1 incidents in relation to performance related pay rules

The Environment Agency's Chief Executive, Philip Duffy, has written to Ofwat regarding water industry category 1 incidents in 2024, in relation to performance related...
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European Commission launches strategy to enhance water security for people, economy and environment

The European Commission has announced the adoption of the European Water Resilience Strategy which sets out a common European vision for water resilience. The aim...
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Government’s new law sees unfair bonuses banned for six water companies with immediate effect

Bonuses have been banned for senior executives at six water companies, as new measures in the Water (Special Measures) Act come into force today...
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National Drought Group meets after driest spring in 132 years

The Environment Agency convened a National Drought Group meeting yesterday (5 June 2025) to discuss the latest outlook and hear from water companies about...
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Relief in the west of Scotland, but water scarcity risk remains in the east

Despite recent heavy rain, Scotland's long-term water scarcity pressures remain after one of the driest starts to the year for decades. The latest water scarcity...
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Defra launches consultation on flood and coastal erosion funding rules

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched a consultation on flood and coastal erosion funding rules. 6.3 million homes and businesses in...
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Northumbrian Water agrees to pay £15.7m enforcement package following Ofwat wastewater investigation

Ofwat has concluded its investigation into Northumbrian Water securing an enforcement package of £15.7m to be paid by the wastewater company and their shareholders,...
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Government funds scheme to tackle on-farm drought risk

The Environment Agency has launched applications for a new round of specialist water assessments supporting farmer groups to collaborate on drought resilience measures and...
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Environmental Standards Scotland asks for views on new five-year Strategy

Environmental Standards Scotland (ESS) has launched a public consultation on a draft of its new Strategy that will set the direction of work for the...
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New proposals to accelerate the construction of flood schemes have been unveiled

New proposals to accelerate the construction of flood schemes and protect thousands of homes and businesses in the nation’s cities and rural areas from...
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New Bill introduced to the Senedd Cymru proposes to establish an Office of Environmental Governance in Wales

Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Deputy First Minister of Wales and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, has introduced a Bill to the Senedd...
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Independent Water Commission publishes interim findings

The interim findings from the Independent Water Commission have been published today (Tuesday 3 June) ahead of its final report this summer. Sir Jon Cunliffe, Chair of...
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Scotland’s bathing water season opens on 10th anniversary of first samples taken under the revised Bathing Water Directive

Scotland’s bathing water season began on 1st June and 2025, marking the 10th anniversary of the first samples taken under the revised Bathing Water...
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Yorkshire Water fined £350,000 after one of its sewage pumping stations polluted a York watercourse

Following an investigation by the Environment Agency, Yorkshire Water appeared at York Magistrates’ Court on Friday 30 May for sentencing for two offences –...
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Ofwat launches consultation on rules for bulk charges for new appointees

Ofwat has launched a consultation setting out its proposal to issue new rules for incumbent English water companies to comply with, when setting their...
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Drought declared in north-west of England

The Environment Agency has declared drought status for the north-west of England following the driest start to spring in 69 years. River flows have been...
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Water scarcity concern remains for much of Scotland despite recent rainfall

Following rainfall at the beginning of the week, some parts of Scotland have seen temporary improvements in water conditions. However, the Scottish Environment Protection...
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Environment Secretary Steve Reed takes control of the planning process for two new reservoirs

The Environment Secretary, Steve Reed, has today taken control of the planning process for two new reservoirs, in an intervention to speed up delivery. Anglian...
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Ofwat fines Thames Water nearly £123m following two investigations

Ofwat has announced the final decision in two investigations looking into the operations of Thames Water, who will face penalties totalling £122.7m. The water industry...
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EFRA Committee wants answers from Thames Water’s Chair and CEO regarding “paused” bonuses

The EFRA Committee, which is appointed by the House of Commons to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of Defra, has written separately to...
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Prolonged dry conditions increase water scarcity across Scotland

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has confirmed that Scotland’s water scarcity situation is worsening, with a further decline in river levels following another...
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NRW steps up action in response to prolonged dry weather

Following the extended period of warm and dry weather, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has confirmed that the trigger thresholds have been met to move...
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Government Taskforce meets on Merseyside to bolster nation’s flood resilience

Bolstering the nation’s resilience to flooding, including in Merseyside, was top of the agenda as the Government’s national Floods Resilience Taskforce convened in Aintree...
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Record 81 criminal investigations launched into water companies under Government crackdown

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has revealed a record total of 81 criminal investigations into water companies have been launched...
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Welsh Parliament’s Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee raises concerns over the ability of Natural Resources Wales to do its job

The Welsh Parliament's Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee has raised concerns over the ability of Natural Resources Wales to do its job effectively. NRW...
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Steve Reed says Thames Water’s attempt to circumvent the ban on executive bonuses by renaming them was the “wrong thing to do”

During the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee session on the morning of May 20, 2025, Environment Secretary Steve Reed MP addressed concerns...
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Lords nitrogen inquiry to conclude by hearing from Defra Ministers

The House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee has announced it will conclude its inquiry into the efficient use and management of reactive...
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Government responds to OEP report on the Environmental Principles Policy Statement

The government has said it welcomes the Office for Environmental Protection’s (OEP’s) report ‘A review of implementation of the duty to have due regard...
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Anglian Water fined a record £1.42 million for using unapproved materials in drinking water tanks that compromised water supply

Anglian Water has been fined a record £1.42 million at Northampton Crown Court following a prosecution by the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) for drinking...
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Scotland’s water industry regulator accused of failure, following inappropriate use of public money

The Public Audit Committee (PAC) has published its final report on the Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS), following its scrutiny of  the water...
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EFRA Committee to quiz Defra Secretary of State, Steve Reed, about Thames Water situation

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA), which is appointed by the House of Commons to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of...
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CRU publishes its 2023 performance assessments on Uisce Éireann

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) has published its 2023 performance assessments on Uisce Éireann (formerly Irish Water). The two reports, 'Water Sector Customer...
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Environment Agency starts sampling Devon and Cornwall’s beaches

Environment Agency sampling of Devon and Cornwall's 155 monitored beaches has now started and will run through until the end of September. A beach...
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