03 Mar 2022

On 18 November 2021, the Environment Agency and Ofwat announced major investigations into potential widespread non-compliance by water and sewerage companies at sewage treatment works. Below is an update from the EA on progress: The investigations were launched after companies revealed to us that they may be in breach of their permit conditions. This issue […]

24 Feb 2022

‘Speech by Sir James Bevan, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, World Water Tech Innovation Summit, 22 February 2022 Thank you for inviting me back. ‘………..  Two years ago I said that all of us need to think differently if we are to tackle successfully the new reality of the climate emergency. Today I want […]

24 Feb 2022

The Government will know it has a problem when the Daily Telegraph starts an environmental campaign. This time it is about raw sewage discharges into rivers to mark the launch of its Clean Rivers Campaign. David Black – Ofwat  To: Chairs of Remuneration Committees for all regulated water and wastewater and water-only companies, copied to […]

24 Feb 2022

Published 16 February 2022 The water industry is producing strategic drainage and wastewater plans to maintain, improve, and extend robust and resilient drainage and wastewater systems. Water and sewerage companies must produce drainage and wastewater management plans (DWMPs) (they must cover a minimum of 25 years) plans looking at current and future capacity, pressures, and […]

10 Feb 2022

https://www.ciwem.org/news/tackling-sewage-borne-litter Guest blog by Dr Peter Matthews, past president of CIWEM and former chair of Natural Resources Wales Government is currently calling for evidence on commonly littered and problematic plastic items. In line with its stated commitment to eliminate avoidable plastic waste by 2042 it is consulting on bans on a range of single-use plastics. It wants […]

10 Feb 2022

Cardiff University: Toxic ‘forever chemicals’ found in otters across England and Wales – new research 25 January 2022 A group of synthetic substances known as “forever chemicals” because of their environmental persistence have been found in otters across England and Wales. The study led by Cardiff University’s Otter Project analysed historical data and found perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl […]

14 Dec 2021

Ofwat Chief tells public – we will hold water and wastewater companies to account if they have done wrong Ofwat Interim Chief Executive, David Black has written an open letter to water customers telling them that If the regulator finds that water and wastewater companies have done wrong, Ofwat will hold them to account. Setting out […]