In the second of a series of Expert Focus articles for WaterBriefing, Richard Broome, Managing Director at LSBUD, the UK’s leading online safe digging resource, explores the contradictory approach to safety in the water industry, highlighting the stark contrast between the protection of workers and the under-protection of assets.
South West Water is urging third party contractors across its region to dial before they dig and check for assets to avoid potentially extreme damage.
Thames Water has recovered almost £3 million in the last year after sewers, drains and water pipes were damaged by third party work.
With the UK government demanding a 50% reduction in storm overflow spills by 2029, the era of reactive management is over. Speaking in the House of Commons on 21 July 2025, then environment secretary Steve Reed said, “This Government will cut water companies’ sewage pollution in half by the end of the decade.”
ERG, the leading supplier of odour control systems and industrial gas cleaning & thermal systems, has been awarded the coveted King’s Award for Enterprise.
Welsh Water’s new artificial intelligence-driven tool, ORAI, has been shortlisted for three categories at the prestigious British Data Awards 2026 – underscoring the company’s commitment to using cutting-edge technology to deliver better outcome for customers.
Barhale has completed work on two separate Rapid Action Taskforce Spills projects it is carrying out for Severn Trent.