23 Jul 2024

Last week saw the publication of the London Climate Resilience Review, chaired by Emma Howard Boyd CBE. The Review provides an assessment of London’s climate resilience and makes 50 recommendations for action to guide London’s preparations for more frequent and intense climate impacts. The Mayor of London has accepted those recommendations that apply to City […]

23 Jul 2024

Two publications this week highlight the impact of climate change on water use and health. First, an article in the Los Angeles Times highlights the challenges of introducing new water-saving rules in California adopts – Los Angeles Times. The State Water Resources Control Board has adopted regulations that will require suppliers in cities and towns […]

23 Jul 2024

The Environment Agency has published a new guide for anyone who owns or occupies land or property next to or containing a main river in England. In ‘Your watercourse: rights and roles’, the Agency notes that, where a watercourse runs adjacent to or through your land you will be what is termed a ‘riparian landowner’. […]

23 Jul 2024

A new project has been launched to help restore the upper reaches of the River Wye, one of the UK’s most cherished rivers. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) announced the Upper Wye Catchment Restoration Project at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show on 22 July 2024. Funded by the Welsh Government, this initiative aims to rejuvenate the […]

23 Jul 2024

The Environmental Industries Commission (EIC) has released a new guide to nature policies. The publication provides a plain English summary of the multiple and fast-emerging nature policies across the UK, and advice on how enhancing nature can add value to development projects. The legislative and investment-driven focus on nature is accelerating, with increased recognition that […]

17 Jul 2024

Last week’s Ofwat announcement on draft determinations for 2025-2030 business plans was covered in Water News. The headlines are that the £96bn proposed programme has been reduced by nearly 10% to £88bn, and allowable bill increases have been reduced by 33%. In slightly more detail, there is £10bn to reduce storm overflows, £1.4bn of which […]

17 Jul 2024

All 11 water and wastewater companies in England and Wales are now under scrutiny over sewage spills, after the regulator said it was expanding its investigation. This week, Ofwat opened enforcement cases into four more firms – Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, Hafren Dyfrdwy, Severn Trent and United Utilities – as part of its probe into […]

17 Jul 2024

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has written to water companies urging them to ‘be open’ about sewage spills and calling on companies to be as transparent as possible with customers about waste discharges into rivers. The ICO is a non-departmental public body which reports directly to Parliament and is sponsored by the Department for Science, […]