06 Feb 2025

The Environment has published new national risk information for flooding and coastal erosion. This includes future scenarios accounting for climate change.   Photo credit: Ray Bilcliff   It includes new National Flood Risk Assessment (NaFRA) ‘Risk of flooding from rivers and sea’ and ‘Risk of flooding from surface water’ data, as well as new National Coastal […]

06 Feb 2025

The consumer body for water customers says urgent action is needed to protect cash-strapped households from soaring water bills. The Consumer Council for Water (CCW) has warned many of the most financially vulnerable households will not be able to cope with a £123 (+26%) increase to the average household water and sewerage bill in England […]

06 Feb 2025

The government has announced the members of the new advisory group to the independent water commission, chaired by Sir Jon Cunliffe. Sir Chris Whitty (Chief Medical Officer), Richard Benwell (CEO, Wildlife & Countryside Link), Professor Isabelle Durance (Professor of Integrated Water Sciences at Cardiff University) and Peter Harrison (former CEO, Schroders) are among the nine members advising […]

06 Feb 2025

The Environment Agency has published new report on water temperature projections for England’s rivers. According to the report, the average water temperature of the warmest summer month is projected to rise by about 0.6°C each decade. The projections indicate that adult brown trout will be under threat from high summer water temperatures at almost all […]

06 Feb 2025

Defra has announced a consultation on the formation of a Land Use Framework for England. According to the government, “new sophisticated data on how land is used will underpin the Government’s Plan for Change, supporting economic growth through building 1.5 million homes and delivering critical infrastructure, securing clean power, protecting farmland and restoring the natural […]

06 Feb 2025

A new research article in Nature highlights “widespread tactics of disinformation, greenwashing and manufacturing doubt…” used by water companies. It argues that “the financial exploitation of water resources in England, alongside long-term degradation of infrastructure and ineffective regulation, raises globally important issues around water security, ethics and environmental stewardship. Much greater scrutiny of both industry […]

06 Feb 2025

Serious concerns are emerging about the condition of critical infrastructure – particularly ageing highways assets – both in the UK and around the world.   Photo credit: Altaf Shah   That is the core theme of the ICE’s State of the Nation 2025 report. Informed by technical experts from across the UK, the report takes a […]

04 Feb 2025

Portugal’s parliament has approved the drafting of a moratorium on deep sea mining in territorial waters to 2050. On January 30th, the Portuguese parliament debated a moratorium on deep sea mining until 2050, with four parties presenting bills.    On January 31st, lawmakers adopted in first reading several texts from various parties, including the ruling group […]