Ofwat has published its new strategy which sets out how it plans to develop economic regulation of the water and sewerage sectors in England and Wales. 

Scottish Water's right to monopolise the market ended yesterday with more than 100,000 businesses and public bodies, such as local authorities, hospitals, schools etc. now free to choose from whom they buy their water and sewerage services, in a radical move that is being hailed as a world first for the water sector.

New regulations that come into force today will strengthen the protection for consumers who suffer sewer flooding. The regulations have been introduced by the Government and follow Ofwat's recommendations of how GSS should be improved for customers.

A Newcastle company was fined £15,000 at Newcastle Upon Tyne Magistrates Court last week for a pollution offence at Dewley Burn.

Ofwat yesterday published its guidance for companies on how it will go about setting price limits for customers' water and sewerage bills for five years from 2010-15. It takes account of responses to its consultation paper published last October.

Ofwat has published the report it commissioned from WRc plc, the independent research-based group which provides consultancy in the water, waste and environment sectors, including to government and regulatory bodies.

Ofwat has published its response to Defra’s consultation on the implementation of the revised Bathing Water Directive. (rBWD)

A new website has been launched to show businesses what choices they have when the water sector opens up to competition on April 1.