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Ofwat Warns Against Complacency

Water companies in England and Wales still have much work ahead of them – despite improving performance and pumping over £4.3 billion into maintaining existing assets and investing in new facilities in 2006-2007, according to Ofwat.

The water regulator has examined annual returns from the 22 water companies and found that investment was up nearly a quarter on the previous year. So far, after two years of the current five year price review, investment remains below the levels anticipated, mainly in respect of improvement schemes. But the majority of companies are investing what is needed in most areas to maintain the standard of service expected by customers.

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Water Leakage Improvements

Water companies in England and Wales reduced the amount of water lost to leakage by nearly 160 million litres of water (Ml/d) a day. This is equal to the daily needs of around one million domestic consumers.

Figures released by Ofwat today reveal that for 2006-07 overall leakage fell:

* from 3,575 Ml/d in 2005-06 to 3,420 Ml/d;
* and by 65 million litres a day more than the industry target of 3,485 Ml/d.

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CCW Happier With Thames Water’s Progress

The Consumer Council for Water Thames is encouraged to learn that Thames Water has achieved its leakage target this year as a result of accelerating its pipe replacement work. The water company today also announced profits of £270 million, – a decrease of 22% on last year’s figures.

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Ofwat Welcomes Thames Water’s Improvements

Responding to today’s announcement by Thames Water that it has exceeded its leakage reduction target for 2006-07, Ofwat said:

“This result, following on from Ofwat’s enforcement action against Thames Water last year, is good news for water consumers. It contributes to reducing the risk of future water supply problems in the capital and shows that Ofwat’s consumer-focused approach is working.”

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United Utilities Fined £8.5m

The Consumer Council for Water North West is calling on the Government to make sure that money arising from a £8.5 million fine on United Utilities’ shareholders is used to help the company’s poorest customers. Ofwat today ordered water and sewerage supplier, United Utilities, to pay the fine for breaches of regulations relating to trading arrangements with associate companies.

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Try DEFRA’s CO2 Calculator

OK, so not especially linked to the hosepipe ban, but we thought our readers might be interested to try the new C02 calculator unveiled by the government today. We’ve been trying it ourselves and although we’re not 100% sure about its accuracy, it does give a good idea about your family’s “Carbon Footprint”.

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Thames Water Meets Leakage Targets

Thames Water will reveal that it has met leakage targets set by water regulator Ofwat for the first time since 2000 when it reports results later this month. The water company is set to declare that it leaked 780 million litres per day in the last financial year, considerably below the target set by Ofwat of 810 million litres per day.

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Hosepipe Ban News Latest News

Wet May Means Ban Unlikely

Following a very warm and dry April the downpours of May have been welcomed for keeping up levels of stored water. Experts are therefore predicting that 2007 will be completely hosepipe ban free. Great news.

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Environment Minister says water policy ‘tired and outdated’

Hottest April since records began.

The UK’s current water policy framework is not robust enough, Environment Minister Ian Pearson said today as he launched a debate on a revised National Water Strategy. Speaking to an industry audience at an IPPR seminar on the link between climate change and water, Mr Pearson called for preconceptions and policies to change to meet the increasing challenges posed by changing climate, housing patterns and lifestyles.

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Support needed for low income families with water meters

Water companies in southern and eastern England should go ahead with metering programmes to tackle pressure on water resources – but not without tackling affordability problems for low income consumers, warned the consumer watchdog today. The Consumer Council for Water has said consistently that compulsory metering cannot go ahead without support for people on low incomes.

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Hosepipe Ban News Latest News

“Right kind of rain” means no hosepipe ban this year

Environment Minister Lord Rooker cheered up the House of Lords yesterday when he informed the Noble Lords that the winter had produced “the right kind of rain”, adding that “it filled the aquifers and the reservoirs”. It was he said the wettest winter on record since 1914 and stated “As a result, most reservoir and groundwater levels are normal for the time of year. Consequently, the outlook for water supply is much improved on recent years.”

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Hosepipe Ban News Latest News

No Hosepipe Bans this year then?

The Environment Agency, water companies and various organisations all say that we shouldn’t see any water restrictions in 2007. Their language on this topic varies – “There’s a very small chance”, “…extremely unlikely”, “…risk of widespread water supply restrictions this summer is low” – seems to be the order of the day. Of course, no organisation will categorically state there won’t be a ban, but they seem pretty confident. Or do they?

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Hosepipe Ban News Latest News

Thames Water: “Hosepipe Ban extremely unlikely this year”

Thames Water’s PR machine has been working overtime again trying to encourage their customers to continue saving water. Their website has published details of how to have a “water-wise Easter” (how many marketing people did it take to dream that one up?). They also state that a hosepipe ban this year should be “extemely unlikely”.

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Hosepipe Ban News Latest News

Consumer Council For Water Welcomes Updating of Hosepipe Ban Rules

One year on from the imposition of hosepipe bans across most of south east England, the Consumer Council for Water (CCWater) has welcomed Government reforms to update the 62-year-old legislation on hosepipe bans. The clearer rules have met consumer demand for better information, one of the findings of new qualitative research by CCWater showing what consumers think and feel about using water – and restrictions on it during dry spells.