The total potential costs of the accelerated projects have increased from £1.6bn to £2.2bn since first being proposed to combat more extreme weather.
The increase is mainly driven by two United Utilities schemes to accelerate storm overflow improvements.
Projects given the green light include:
- Ten schemes worth close to £1.7bn to tackle storm overflows. These will use innovative plans to reduce overflow spills by around 10,000 per year.
- This includes work to improve water quality at the bathing water site at Ilkley on the River Wharfe and significantly reduce spills into Lake Windermere.
- Acceleration of the design of the North Suffolk Winter Storage and Lowestoft reuse schemes for the Essex and Suffolk area
- Seven smart metering schemes that includes the installation of 462,000 smart meters and which will help to increase drought resilience.
- Six water supply schemes which will provide an additional 75Ml/d of water once completed and protect a maximum of 31Ml/d of peak output.
- Three nutrient neutrality schemes worth potentially £160m that will protect natural ecosystems.
The water sector is facing dry summers and more frequent and intense rainfall.
In addition, there is a need to significantly improve river and bathing water quality across the UK.
To help tackle these issues, Ofwat agreed with Defra companies to make an early start on schemes included in existing plans, where they could demonstrate clear need and benefits to customers and the environment.
Chris Walters, Senior Director, Price Review at Ofwat said: “The water sector needs to act now to secure future needs of customers and the environment.
“The schemes we are confirming today will help tackle storm overflows, install more smart meters, provide additional water supply and improve river water quality.
“In each case the company has demonstrated a clear need and benefits to customers and the environment.”
