26 Sep 2023

The government has published its response to the recent consultation on the expansion of the Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan to cover coastal and estuarine waters. In summary Government expands plan to tackle storm overflows, including all coastal and estuary sites Marine protected areas and shellfish water protected areas made a priority Plan to drive […]

26 Sep 2023

Reported in the Guardian, pollution from treated and untreated sewage is the greatest threat to river biodiversity, causing more damage than runoff from farms, according to research. There is a need for more regulation of water companies and improvements at their treatment plans to protect rivers, say the authors of the study. The research from […]

26 Sep 2023

The Climate Change Committee has published some useful new briefing notes, commissioned by the Welsh Government, on adaptation to climate change. They cover –  Adaptation and the nature emergency –  Adaptation and social justice –  Adaptation and decarbonisation There is also a progress report on adaptation in Wales, which shows there are some positive examples […]

26 Sep 2023

The House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee has criticised the Government’s “lack of leadership and deep-rooted complacency” in the conclusion to its follow-up inquiry into Ofwat, the water industry and the role of Government. In a letter to Thérèse Coffey MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the cross-party committee has […]

26 Sep 2023

The Future Water Association has published its Future Water Report Card has emerged – a state of the nation type assessment of eight key aspects relating to our pipes and sewers. What does the Future Water Community think about: Asset Health Leakage (mains) Innovation Research Sewers (operation) People Customer Side Leakage Sewers Maintenance Use the […]

20 Sep 2023

This week saw the publication of the long-awaited Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) recommendations and guidance. Following from the success of the TCFD, which has helped expand and standardise the disclosure of climate risks around the world, the TNFD can empower organisations to understand their impacts and dependencies on nature. According to the TNFD: The […]

20 Sep 2023

Business for Nature, the World Economic Forum and World Business Council for Sustainable Development have developed new guidance for a nature-positive future across 12 sectors. An overview of the key impacts, dependencies and priority actions for each sector is available, supporting business to identify and implement relevant, impactful actions for nature. One of the sectors is Water utilities and […]

20 Sep 2023

Research from Pesticide Action Network (PAN) shows that the UK is failing to phase out pesticides that have been found to be harmful to human health and the environment at the same rate as the EU. Thirteen of the 36 chemicals are considered highly hazardous pesticides under UN definitions used to identify the most harmful […]