03 May 2023

The Guardian reports that a chemicals company is releasing large quantities of a “forever chemical” described as being “very persistent, mobile and toxic” into the River Wyre in Lancashire each year, and is not breaking any rules. Earlier this year, the Guardian and Watershed Investigations revealed that effluent coming from the site of AGC Chemicals Europe in Thornton-Cleveleys could […]

02 May 2023

Anglian Water pleaded guilty and was hit with a fine of £2.65m after allowing untreated sewage to overflow into the North Sea following a prosecution brought by the Environment Agency (EA). A catalogue of failures by the company to manage and monitor effluent at the Jaywick Water Recycling Centre in Essex led to sewage being […]

26 Apr 2023

The government has published new guidance on calculating the impact of flood and coastal erosion risk management schemes on the natural and historic environment. There is also a tool to calculate a monetary value of the impact. EHOV (Environment and Historic Environment Outcome Valuation) is an update to the 2010 Economic Valuation of Environmental Effects […]

26 Apr 2023

Rivercraft 2, a suite of games launched this week, will help to educate children and young people about the risks of flooding – and inspire young people to careers where people can make a difference. Produced by a partnership of the Environment Agency, Microsoft and developers BlockBuilders to engage young people on flood risk reduction, […]

25 Apr 2023

The updated River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) were published in December 2022 under the Water Environment (England and Wales) Regulations 2017, which seeks to establish an integrated approach to the protection and sustainable use of the water environment. During previous RBMP consultations, stakeholders highlighted an insufficient focus on estuaries and coasts (E&C) within RBMPs. A ‘RBMP […]

12 Apr 2023

Defra has announced (10 April) that four swimming spots in England are being designated as bathing waters ahead of the warmer months and will soon benefit from regular water quality monitoring. Following a two-week public consultation, Sykes Lane Bathing Beach and Whitwell Creek at Rutland Water, Firestone Bay in Plymouth, and a section of the […]

12 Apr 2023

The Environment Agency has developed an operating framework for water supply reservoirs and flood risk management. This framework will: help decide which water supply reservoirs can provide flood risk management benefits enable consistent local decision making We have designed this framework to support engagement between the: Environment Agency water companies other partners, including local communities […]

12 Apr 2023

Floods Minister Rebecca Pow has announced the first communities in England to receive better flood protection as part of the government’s £100 million Frequently Flooded Allowance to protect areas which have been affected by repeated flooding. The first 53 projects announced today will be allocated more than £26 million in total, better protecting more than […]