HomeGovernment, Policy & Regulation

Government, Policy & Regulation

Southern Water pleads guilty to 13 pollution charges

Southern Water has pleaded guilty to 13 counts of unpermitted discharges from Margate, Broadstairs and Weatherlees Hill Wastewater Pumping Stations between 2019 and 2021.  The...

Investigation leads to overflowing collection tank and pollution conviction

Michael McCullagh, (70), Gorticashel Road, Greencastle, Co Tyrone was convicted yesterday (28 April 2025) at Omagh Magistrates Court, under Article 7(1)(a) of the Water...

SEPA’s first Water Scarcity Report for summer 2025 shows alerts for parts of northern Scotland

The first Water Scarcity Report of 2025 published by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency already identifies two regions at “Alert” level for potential shortages,...

Unauthorised discharges and odours drive enforcement at EPA priority sites in 2024

Ireland's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published its Industrial and Waste Licence Enforcement Summary 2024.  The report details EPA enforcement activities across industrial and...

Polluting water bosses face up to two years in prison

Water company bosses could face up to two years in prison due to new powers in force today, Friday 25 April 2025.   The new powers,...

Regulators have failed to deliver a trusted and resilient water sector, says the National Audit Office

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and water regulators have failed to drive necessary investment for the sector in the past...

Water UK calls for major reform in submission to Independent Water Commission

Water UK, the trade association representing all of the water and wastewater companies across Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland, is calling for major reform...

Richard Benwell, CEO of Wildlife and Countryside Link, tells government committee that nature isn’t a blocker to development, but should be a partner

The Public Bill Committee on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill met for the first time yesterday (Thursday 24 April 2025). The committee heard oral evidence...

Second reading of the Chalk Steams (Protection) Bill to take place in Parliament this week

The second reading of the Chalk Streams (Protection) Bill, which will give chalk streams an enhanced status to protect them from pollution and environmental...

Environment Agency proposes new water industry enforcement levy

The Environment Agency is seeking views on a proposed new levy on certain water discharge activities carried out by water companies, designed to fully...

Northern Ireland Environment Agency launches 8-week call for evidence to improve knowledge base on impacts on the water environment

The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) has launched an 8-week Call for Evidence to improve the knowledge base on impacts on the water environment...

Environment Agency launches consultation on cost recovery for water company enforcement activities

The Environment Agency has launched a consultation on cost recovery for water company enforcement activity. The consultation follows the introduction of the Water (Special Measures)...

Water industry performance not good enough, says EA’s Jo Nettleton in first ever Chief Regulator’s report

In the Environment Agency's first ever Chief Regulator’s report, Dr Jo Nettleton, who was appointed to the Chief Regulator role in April 2024, has...

Mineral Products Association calls on NISTA to boost delivery on infrastructure strategy

The Mineral Products Association (MPA) has urged the new National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) and HM Treasury to seize the moment to...

EAC launches new inquiry to address the risks of PFAS forever chemicals within the UK’s regulatory approach

House of Commons select committee, the Environmental Audit Committee, is launching a new inquiry to address the risks of PFAS forever chemicals within the...

New Council of advisors appointed in NISTA to support the implementation of the 10-year infrastructure strategy

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, has set up a new Council of Expert Advisors to support the...

CMA requests six month extension to redetermine price reviews for five water companies

The Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) has requested an extension of six months to the process that will see it redetermine the price reviews...

Ofwat calls on the water industry to help support economic growth

An acceleration and optimisation of major water infrastructure projects can help deliver on the government’s growth agenda, Ofwat has said.   In a letter sent to...

Ofwat concludes that no further steps need to be taken in relation to the change of ownership of Icosa Water Services Limited

Ofwat has concluded that no further steps need to be taken in relation to the change of ownership of Icosa Water Services Limited, following...

SEPA warns of early water scarcity risk as dry spell continues

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is warning that early signs of water scarcity are emerging across Scotland, with businesses urged to take action...

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir responds to OEP report on improving protection for nature in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Minister Andrew Muir has committed to ensuring that full and prompt consideration is given...

Environment Secretary Steve Reed announces major reforms to environmental regulation

Major reforms to environmental regulation have been announced by Environment Secretary Steve Reed, which he says will create a more dynamic, streamlined approach to help...

OEP welcomes decision in Pickering Fishery Association case on water quality laws

The Office for Environmental Protection says it welcomes yesterday's (Wednesday, 2 April) Court of Appeal decision on the correct interpretation of the law to...

National Infrastructure Commission combined with Infrastructure and Projects Authority to form new organisation

As of 1 April 2025, the National Infrastructure Commission has been combined with the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) to form a new organisation,...

SEPA launches consultation on proposed Environmental Performance Assessment Scheme (EPAS)

SEPA is launching a consultation on a proposed Environmental Performance Assessment Scheme (EPAS) - which it says will be a fairer way of reporting...

Environment Secretary describes the number of spills from storm overflows as “disgraceful” after new figures released

The Environment Secretary has described the number of spills from storm overflows as “disgraceful” as new figures were released by the Environment Agency yesterday...

Environment Agency says spill count and duration remains unacceptably high across England following publication of latest Event Duration Monitoring

The Environment Agency has today published water company Event Duration Monitoring (EDM) Annual Return data for 2024 showing the frequency and duration of spills from storm...

Independent water networks call for ‘inefficient regulation’ to be scrapped to boost growth

The trade body representing independent water networks has called on the Government to scrap inefficient and outdated regulations to boost growth and speed up...

Ofwat opens consultation on banning bonuses for water companies

Ofwat has published a consultation seeking feedback on a new rule that will prevent water companies from awarding bonuses to water bosses in certain circumstances. The...

Castle Water granted appeal after Ofwat says no to changing the Wholesale Retail Code

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has allowed Castle Water Limited to appeal an Ofwat decision, after the regulator rejected Castle Water's request for...

OEP launches investigation into possible failures by Defra and the Environment Agency to comply with key laws to protect and improve water quality

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has launched an investigation into possible failures by Defra and the Environment Agency to comply with the Water...

Consultation on Uisce Éireann’s non-domestic tariff framework

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) has published a Proposed Decision Paper for new non-domestic water and wastewater tariffs to apply to non-domestic...

Yorkshire Water to pay £40m enforcement package following Ofwat wastewater investigation

Ofwat has concluded its investigation into Yorkshire Water securing an enforcement package of £40m to be paid by the wastewater company.  Since the regulator published...

Ofwat refers five companies’ redetermination requests to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)

Ofwat has formally referred the requests from five companies for a redetermination of their PR24 Final Determination to the CMA. This commences the six-month period...

EPA publishes early insights into last year’s nitrogen levels in Ireland’s rivers

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published early insights into nitrogen levels in Ireland's rivers in 2024. The Early Insights Nitrogen Indicator 2024 has been...

River Thames Lock Keepers set for strike vote over safety fears, GMB warns Government

River Thames weir and lock keepers are set to ballot for industrial action over safety concerns, GMB has warned the Government.   In a letter...

Failed legal challenge for South West Water after battle to get 12 sewage spill charge dropped

The Environment Agency has won a case against South West Water, after the water company attempted to prevent 12 charges relating to sewage discharges...

Environment Secretary Steve Reed highlights Havant Thicket reservoir as a prime example of private sector investment driving forward major infrastructure projects

Environment Secretary Steve Reed visited Havant Thicket reservoir this week as part of the ‘Things Can Only Get Cleaner’ tour that he and Water...

Minister for Water and Flooding, Emma Hardy, visits North Cave Wetlands to see how nature-based solutions help flooding

The North Cave Wetlands nature reserve was the final location on the nationwide ‘Things Can Only Get Cleaner’ water tour by Defra Ministers.   Minister for...

NEWS CATEGORIES

NEWS ARCHIVE