Severn Trent

Ofwat is now investigating all eleven of England and Wales’ water companies

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https://www.cityam.com/ofwat-is-now-investigating-all-eleven-of-england-and-wales-water-companies/

Surfers Against Sewage paddle-outs involve local communities coming together to protest against water companies dumping sewage in the oceans and rivers they use for watersports and swimming. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images)

Ofwat is opening enforcement cases into four more water companies, meaning it is now investigating every single water and wastewater firm in England and Wales for the mismanagement of their networks and treatment.

On Tuesday the regulator confirmed it has served formal notices on Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, Hafren Dyfrdwy, Severn Trent and United Utilities to gather evidence for the investigation.

The notices follow a what Ofwat described as a “detailed” analysis of information on firms’ environmental performance and data about the regularity of their spills from storm overflows.

The regulator believes the four firms may not be fulfilling their obligation to protect the environment and minimise pollution, meaning that it is now investigating all 11 water companies in England and Wales.

Investigations into Anglian Water, Northumbrian Water, South West Water and Thames Water, which last week was effectively placed into special measures by Ofwat, are ongoing from 2022, while Southern Water is still subject to monitoring following a case that dates back to 2019.

David Black, Ofwat’s chief executive, said: ““The fact that Ofwat now has enforcement cases with all 11 of the wastewater companies in England and Wales demonstrates how concerned we are about the sector’s environmental performance.

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https://www.cityam.com/ofwat-is-now-investigating-all-eleven-of-england-and-wales-water-companies/

Continue ReadingOfwat is now investigating all eleven of England and Wales’ water companies

Water bosses caught colluding with Labour in bid to avoid nationalisation

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Image of a burst water main.
Image of a burst water main.

https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/water-bosses-caught-colluding-labour-bid-avoid-nationalisation

THE boss of water giant Severn Trent was caught colluding with Labour’s increasingly right-wing leadership to stave off calls for nationalisation today.

In a leaked email marked “highly confidential,” Liv Garfield invited other bosses from across England’s privatised system to a “off-the-record roundtable” discussion on how to maintain the “status quo” amid the potential collapse of Thames Water.

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Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer committed to state-run utility firms when he ran for the party leadership in 2020, but he has now largely abandoned the pledges, calling for better regulation instead.

Ms Garfield wrote: “While it is clear Labour will not include nationalisation in its next manifesto, they are also not keen on championing the status quo.

“The leadership thinks there is room for improvement and, politically, there is significant pressure to ‘do something’ about utilities.

“Labour is aware we are soft testing various ideas but have asked us to keep it highly confidential so please don’t forward this email.”

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/water-bosses-caught-colluding-labour-bid-avoid-nationalisation

Continue ReadingWater bosses caught colluding with Labour in bid to avoid nationalisation