Following last week’s publication of storm overflow spill data for 2023, covered in last week’s news, the sewage has really been hitting the fan The BBC highlighted that sewage spills into England’s rivers and seas by water companies more than doubled last year. According to the Environment Agency there were 3.6 million hours of spills […]
According to Labour Party analysis of NHS hospital admissions statistics, waterborne diseases such as dysentery and Weil’s disease have risen by 60% since 2010 in England. Over the last year, 122 people were diagnosed with leptospirosis (Weil’s disease), double the number in 2010. The disease, which can lead to liver damage and kidney failure, is […]
Waterwise has worked with the Environment Agency and a range of partners with expertise in water efficiency behaviour change initiatives to prepare a new toolkit to enable a standard approach to reporting on behaviour change projects in the UK. The purpose of the toolkit is to ensure water efficiency behaviour change projects can be evaluated […]
Rising political and public scrutiny demands better sewage monitoring. We need more accurate data alongside stricter controls, according to Peter Matthews and Alastair Chisholm, who propose improvements building on the Worshipful Company of Water Conservator’s recommendations. Demand for more stringent sewage effluent monitoring and enforcement has been growing for some time. The Environment Agency (EA) […]
A new history and wildlife trail across Hull’s Beverley and Barmston Drain sees wildlife ‘guides’ Wendy the Water Vole and Percy the Perch help reconnect people to their natural environment. The pilot project – along nine bridges across the drain – gives historical information and helps the community spot wildlife native to the location. It […]
The Environment Agency has published guidance on emerging techniques for the production of hydrogen from water using electrolysis. The guidance – developed in consultation with industry, other UK regulators and other stakeholders – will help businesses design and develop industrial facilities for the production of green hydrogen, a low carbon energy carrier that is a key feature […]
The management of environmental water quality and the impact of agriculture and effluent discharges has been a subject of intense debate in recent times. The Worshipful Company of Water Conservators (WCWC) has responded by organising a programme focusing on the ‘wisdom of water’ in which there is a series of debates, webinars, and think pieces […]
Heavy rainfall in the autumn and winter is thought to be behind the huge increase in raw sewage discharges just announced by the Environment Agency. Latest figures show more than 4m hours of discharges were poured into rivers and seas last year, a 129% increase on the previous 12 months. Total discharges from the 14,000 […]