12 Jun 2025

Image description: sewage outfalls emptying into the ocean. Image by Tom Fisk.   Unfair bonuses banned The government has confirmed “unfair bonuses” have been banned for six water companies with immediate effect, following new measures from the Water (Special Measures) Act coming into force. The government said that in the past 10 years, executives at […]

12 Jun 2025

Image description: Two sheep looking toward a camera. Image by Pixabay.   Conservationists have launched a campaign to revoke the Lake District’s Unesco world heritage status, claiming that the illustrious title leads to sheep farming being overly prioritised, to the detriment of the natural environment. In a letter to Unesco, Ecologist Lee Schofield argues that […]

05 Jun 2025

Image description: A tree standing in the middle of a lake, taken in Gwynedd, Wales. Image by Lucas Hartmann / Pexels.   The Welsh Government has introduced a new law intended to protect biodiversity and enhance the wellbeing of the people of Wales. The Deputy First Minister with responsibility for Climate Change, Huw Irranca-Davies said […]

05 Jun 2025

Image description: Woodland and bluebells. Image by Charles Miller / Pexels.   Irreplaceable habitats threatened by Planning Bill  Part Three of Labours’ Planning and Infrastructure Bill has been highly contentious since its introduction, with the UK’s leading nature organisations labelled it “a license to kill” and calling for it to be completely scrapped after the […]

05 Jun 2025

Image description: Aerial view of a reservoir. Image by Kelly / Pexels.   Government gives two new reservoirs the go-ahead The Environment Secretary Steve Reed has seized control of the planning process to build two major reservoirs for the first time since the 1990s, in what the government is hailing as “a significant intervention to […]

05 Jun 2025

Image Description: Water treatment facility from a birds-eye view. Image by Tom Fisk.   The Independent Water Commission has released its interim report, ahead of its final findings due in the Summer. Sir Jon Cunliffe, Chair of the Commission, has set out five areas where he believes wide-ranging and fundamental change is needed to reset […]

05 Jun 2025

Image: A man paddleboarding. Image by Kampus Production / Pexels.   In March, the government announced reforms which it says will modernise “outdated” regulations around bathing water quality, and will “keep pace with Britain’s love of swimming”. The system for monitoring the more than 550 designated, outdoor, swimming sites in England and Wales will be […]

29 May 2025

 Photo description: Tower Bridge straddling the Thames. Image by Albrecht Fietz / Pixabay   Thames Water has been fined a total of £122.7m for breaching rules over sewage spills and shareholder payouts, as Ofwat finalised both the penalty and enforcement order which have been imposed on the company. A £104.5m penalty has been issued for […]