A study in a recent report by global consultancy firm Deloitte on the challenges facing the global water industry has suggested that $16 trillion should be dedicated to water infrastructure over the next two decades.

Alan Sutherland, Chief Executive of the Water Industry Commission for Scotland, has struck a note of caution about adopting the structures of other markets to the water sector, warning that "water is not oil, or any of the other commodities that lend themselves easily to trading on spot and futures markets."

The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee is warning that the Government's strategy to create a green economy is too focused on voluntary action and fails to set a clear trajectory or any time-bound milestones for businesses to achieve. The MPs want the Government to develop minimum sustainability standards with stakeholders and businesses

Dr. Paul Leinster, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency has called for consideration to be given to the introduction of multi-pipe water supply systems in the UK to maximise the efficient use of water.

Ofwat's director of policy and communication Marian Spain has said that opening the water sector up to competition for business customers would result in “a lot less need for regulation on price” and that if water companies can help businesses better “it will help all of us.”

The Government has published its responses to an Energy & Climate Change (ECC) Committee report of February 2012, revealing that marine energy is relatively low on its agenda in the development of low-carbon solutions.

Martin Baggs, Chief Executive of Thames Water has said that “a national water grid is not going to happen in my lifetime” when he appeared as the keynote speaker at the Institute of Water annual conference in London yesterday.