13 Sep 2023

That is the finding of biologists at Goethe University Frankfurt, who say effluents from wastewater treatment plants have a dual effect: some species disappear, while others increase in number. The impact of effluent is especially noticeable with certain insect species, such as stonefly and caddisfly larvae, which are decimated. By contrast, certain worms and crustaceans, […]

13 Sep 2023

The Water Innovation Europe 2023 conference ‘EU Water Policy- What’s next?’ concluded in June, welcoming more than 180 participants from all around Europe, giving the floor to 63 leading experts, hosting four main sessions & five side-events and giving awards to 6 water innovators. This new post-event policy report summarises the multi-stakeholder exchanges of the event regarding the need for a European […]

13 Sep 2023

According to an investigation by the New York Times, the US is using up its groundwater at an alarming rate, threatening to squander a resource that is the backbone of the country’s farming system. Data analysis found that in the past decade, four of every 10 groundwater sites in the country hit all-time lows. This […]

06 Sep 2023

Last week, we reported how the government has scrapped nutrient neutrality rules on new developments, under pressure from housebuilders. Whilst the official press release included favourable quotes from developers and housebuilders, reaction from others has been somewhat less enthusiastic. The body set up by the government to hold it to account on protecting and improving […]

06 Sep 2023

A BBC investigation has found that three water companies – Southern Water, Thames Water and Wessex Water, illegally discharged sewage hundreds of times last year on days when it was not raining. The practice, known as “dry spilling”, is banned because it can lead to higher concentrations of sewage in waterways. The BBC says that […]

06 Sep 2023

CIWEM has launched a survey asking for views on the current performance of the water sector and priorities for the future. The survey runs until 26th September and feeds into a wider project: A Fresh Water Future. More information is below, including the link to the survey. Please note that CIWEM is keen that people […]

06 Sep 2023

Ofwat, the economic regulator for the water sector in England and Wales, is calling on water companies with bold and innovative projects to solve some of the water sector’s biggest challenges to apply to win the fourth Water Breakthrough Challenge. To date, Ofwat’s £200 million Innovation Fund has awarded more than £105 million to projects […]

06 Sep 2023

Professor Sir Dieter Helm sets out the arguments against nationalisation and the status quo. Mention Thames Water (“Thames”) and eyes tend to glaze over. How could the great promises of privatisation have come to this? Across the industry, most try to keep their distance in case the Thames experience undermines their own reputations. On most […]