06 Dec 2022

The work of the Environment Agency, Natural England and partners was announced as the winner (29th November) for efforts across Cumbria to reinstate natural river processes that benefit both people and wildlife. The Cumbrian River Restoration partnerships programme has improved almost 100k of river length and restored over 150 hectares of floodplain across the catchments […]

06 Dec 2022

Ofwat has revealed that water and wastewater companies are falling behind on their investment plans, leaving promised service improvements behind schedule or undelivered. Ofwat, as part of the price review process, sets allowances for how much companies can invest over the price control period, to maintain and improve its water network. Between 2020 and 2022 […]

06 Dec 2022

The new UNEP State of Finance for Nature report calls for investment in nature-based solutions to more than double if we are to achieve our climate, biodiversity, and land degradation goals. Important reading ahead of COP15 (running from 7-19 Dec in Canada), the report outlines the need to both phase-out nature-negative finance flows and dramatically increase private […]

06 Dec 2022

The Environment Agency has published an enforcement position (RPS260) for wetlands that receive treated final effluent discharged from water and sewerage company wastewater treatment works. Water and sewerage companies (WaSCs) cannot use this regulatory position statement (RPS). It sets out the Environment Agency’s enforcement position for nutrient treatment wetlands (NTWs) operated by parties other than WaSCs. […]

06 Dec 2022

Water from ‘off-grid’ supply and treatment systems for individual buildings may be cheaper to supply than water from conventional systems, new research suggests. These decentralised systems also cut water consumption by continuously recycling wastewater onsite. Current centralised systems for supplying and cleaning water are increasingly considered inefficient and unsustainable. Click here to read more

06 Dec 2022

Some good news to end on. 1. Natural Resources Wales crackdown on illegal gravel removal and modification works to rivers A task force set up by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to tackle illegal physical modifications to rivers and streams across the country has seen more than 30 legal notices to stop and remediate served on landowners. […]

06 Dec 2022

A £3m funding scheme to support the fisheries, marine and aquaculture sectors is now open for expressions of interest, Minister for Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths has announced. The funding is available over two years and replaces the previous European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.     The aim of the Welsh Marine and Fisheries Scheme is […]

06 Dec 2022

Record number of plastic nurdles found on beaches as environmental groups call for tougher laws. A survey has now found a record number on beaches around the world and campaigners want new laws in place to help reduce spillages. Nurdles are tiny pellets of plastic used by industry to produce nearly all of our plastic […]