12 Sep 2023
Sand is the most exploited natural resource in the world after water and is used to produce concrete and glass. Around six billion tonnes are dredged from the world’s oceans every year. This is “perilously” close to the natural replenishment rate of 10 to 16 billion tons per year necessary to sustain coastal and marine […]
06 Sep 2023
Last week, we reported how the government has scrapped nutrient neutrality rules on new developments, under pressure from housebuilders. Whilst the official press release included favourable quotes from developers and housebuilders, reaction from others has been somewhat less enthusiastic. The body set up by the government to hold it to account on protecting and improving […]
06 Sep 2023
A BBC investigation has found that three water companies – Southern Water, Thames Water and Wessex Water, illegally discharged sewage hundreds of times last year on days when it was not raining. The practice, known as “dry spilling”, is banned because it can lead to higher concentrations of sewage in waterways. The BBC says that […]
06 Sep 2023
CIWEM has launched a survey asking for views on the current performance of the water sector and priorities for the future. The survey runs until 26th September and feeds into a wider project: A Fresh Water Future. More information is below, including the link to the survey. Please note that CIWEM is keen that people […]
06 Sep 2023
Ofwat, the economic regulator for the water sector in England and Wales, is calling on water companies with bold and innovative projects to solve some of the water sector’s biggest challenges to apply to win the fourth Water Breakthrough Challenge. To date, Ofwat’s £200 million Innovation Fund has awarded more than £105 million to projects […]
06 Sep 2023
Professor Sir Dieter Helm sets out the arguments against nationalisation and the status quo. Mention Thames Water (“Thames”) and eyes tend to glaze over. How could the great promises of privatisation have come to this? Across the industry, most try to keep their distance in case the Thames experience undermines their own reputations. On most […]
06 Sep 2023
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust has partnered with More Than Insurance on a project focused on investment for flood management solutions. The programme includes the installation of green verges and attenuation ponds to reduce rain water peak flow and therefore risk of flooding. The programme will showcase ways to address flooding triggers in Gloucester and Cheltenham at […]
06 Sep 2023
The BBC reports that firefighters are using treated sewage water after droughts. The article actually describes the use of treated and disinfected *wastewater* to put out fires, rather than abstracting from rivers and lakes in areas of water stress.
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