25 Sep 2024
Helen Wakeham, Director of Water, writes how public concern around pollution in England’s waterways has increased markedly in recent years, with the actions of water companies, and particularly pollution from storm overflow discharges receiving widespread attention. She says that World Rivers Day presents a good opportunity to not only take a look at the state […]
18 Sep 2024
By Michelle Jackson, associate professor of freshwater/marine ecology at the University of Oxford Public outrage over river pollution has been heartening to see. Over the past few years, stories about sewage contamination in rivers have captured public attention, and prompted campaigns and protests, such as the forthcoming River Action UK march for clean water on […]
18 Sep 2024
An investigation by the Environment Agency into Severn Trent Water revealed that raw sewage from a blocked sewer had been discharged into a brook near Gloucester – impacting about 1.7km of the watercourse. The case has ended in the water company agreeing an Enforcement Undertaking (EU) with the Environment Agency and giving Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust […]
18 Sep 2024
Blue Mussels & Water Pollution: Protecting Wales’s River Conwy – Cool Green Science (nature.org) North Wales is renowned for its lush landscapes, temperate climate and ample rainfall. The region’s natural beauty is underscored by its rugged mountains and tranquil rivers. The Conwy River, called Afon Conwy in Welsh, originates in the Migneint Moorlands of Snowdonia. […]
12 Sep 2024
Environmental Standards Scotland (ESS) has published a new report which finds that action needs to be taken to improve monitoring, regulatory guidance and the operation of storm overflows in Scotland. The report ‘Storm overflows: an assessment of spills, their impact on the water environment and the effectiveness of legislation and policy’ sets out that: there […]
05 Sep 2024
England’s National Parks, renowned for their natural beauty and diverse wildlife, are facing a hidden threat: pharmaceutical pollution. New research from the University of York and the Rivers Trust has revealed widespread contamination of rivers in the parks, with antidepressants, anticonvulsants, antimicrobials, anti-inflammatory substances, lipid regulators and diabetes treatments being detected. The study found pharmaceuticals […]
05 Sep 2024
New research suggests that warmer water in rivers and lakes resulting from climate change, along with pollution from sewage and farming are having an even bigger effect on aquatic life than previously thought. Almost half of all fish species and 10% of mammals rely on rivers and lakes for survival but a combination of climate […]
28 Aug 2024
The March for Clean Water will be held in London on 26 October to press the government to do more to clean up Britain’s rivers, lakes and seas. Activist Feargal Sharkey is heading up the protest, which has been organised by River Action and backed by a growing number of environmental, sports and community groups. […]
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