05 Jun 2025

Image description: Aerial view of a reservoir. Image by Kelly / Pexels.   Government gives two new reservoirs the go-ahead The Environment Secretary Steve Reed has seized control of the planning process to build two major reservoirs for the first time since the 1990s, in what the government is hailing as “a significant intervention to […]

05 Jun 2025

Image Description: Water treatment facility from a birds-eye view. Image by Tom Fisk.   The Independent Water Commission has released its interim report, ahead of its final findings due in the Summer. Sir Jon Cunliffe, Chair of the Commission, has set out five areas where he believes wide-ranging and fundamental change is needed to reset […]

05 Jun 2025

Image: A man paddleboarding. Image by Kampus Production / Pexels.   In March, the government announced reforms which it says will modernise “outdated” regulations around bathing water quality, and will “keep pace with Britain’s love of swimming”. The system for monitoring the more than 550 designated, outdoor, swimming sites in England and Wales will be […]

29 May 2025

 Photo description: Tower Bridge straddling the Thames. Image by Albrecht Fietz / Pixabay   Thames Water has been fined a total of £122.7m for breaching rules over sewage spills and shareholder payouts, as Ofwat finalised both the penalty and enforcement order which have been imposed on the company. A £104.5m penalty has been issued for […]

29 May 2025

Photo description: A mixed wildflower meadow, full of purple and yellow flowers. Image by Couleur / Pixabay   Government fails to endorse a proposed Nitrogen Strategy Government ministers have stopped short of endorsing a dedicated Nitrogen Strategy during a House of Lords inquiry into nitrogen pollution. Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner and Water Minister Emma Hardy […]

29 May 2025

Image description: One of the new signs as part of the history and wildlife trail. Credit: Groundwork Yorkshire.   The latest phase of Hull’s Dynamic Drains initiative has launched along Holderness Drain in East Hull, transforming previously underused land into a linear park, expanding the city’s wildlife and history trail, and improving access to fishing. […]

22 May 2025

Image description: A winding river through a dark landscape, with the sun in the centre of the sky. Image by Pixabay.   A new study finds nearly a third of all antibiotics that people consume, equivalent to 8,500 tonnes, end up in the world’s rivers every year. Previous studies estimating environmental antibiotic pollution at global […]

22 May 2025

Image description: Full view of Westminster, with the Thames visible in the foreground. Image by Adam Dereweck/ Pixabay.    Ministers promised to block Thames bonuses Last week the Thames Water Executives including Sir Adrian Montague, the Chair, and Chris Weston, the Chief Executive, faced scrutiny from MPs at a select committee hearing. During this enquiry […]