The Government says it recognises that securing the long-term future of England’s water sector relies on continued private sector investment – despite the announcement by Andy Burnham yesterday of plans to remove the current cap on Government ownership of shares in water companies.

In the largest ever fine imposed for environmental offences in the region, South West Water has been fined more than £7.8 million in a case brought by the Environment Agency for environmental offences across Devon and Cornwall over a six-year period.

Ofwat has launched a new consultation on its draft decision agreeing to Portsmouth Water’s request for significantly funding and revised delivery dates for the Havant Thicket Reservoir (project (HRT) which is being developed by the water company.

Ofwat has launched a new consultation on a recent change of ownership for Southern Water resulting from the recent acquisition by a new investor of a substantial minority stake in a holding company of the utility.

The House of Commons EFRA Committee has published a report on the future of Thames Water which calls on Ofwat and the government to withdraw from negotiating with the L&VW consortium and urges the government to either put the company into Special Administration or to consider emergency legislation that takes control of its financial affairs before more appropriate owners can be found.