22 May 2024

The last week or so has seen protests against sewage overflows continue to grow. The Mirror – ‘Someone will die from raw sewage pumped into our rivers – is that what it will take for action?’ The Guardian – ‘Clean water is a basic right’: protesters against sewage in seas and rivers gather across the […]

21 May 2024

A clean transport advocacy organisation has claimed that ships in some UK ports create more air pollution than cars. Milford Haven in Wales was the most polluted, followed by Immingham in Lincolnshire and Southampton, according to a report by Transport and Environment (T&E). It found ships in Milford Haven produced nearly 100 times more harmful […]

14 May 2024

A report launched by Stormwater Shepherds and CIWEM shines a light on the toxic cocktail of pollutants that runs off the UK’s road network and into our rivers and water sources every time it rains. The pollution comes from tyre particles, fuel spills and other vehicle fluids, road surface fragments, sediment and herbicides. These contain […]

06 May 2024

A recently released report titled “Legacy Plastics” suggests that community driven beach cleanups could be a more cost-effective strategy to removing large, macroplastics compared to trials testing novel technologies. However, preventing plastics from entering the environment must be a policy priority. The report, released by the Royal Society at the same time as the latest […]

01 May 2024

Read CIWEM’s balanced and considered view on Ofwat’s new Growth Duty – will it support sustainable growth? This proposes an over-arching ‘sustainability duty’ to address the imbalance between Ofwat’s economic regulatory focus and the need for more robust environmental enforcement. Covered in The Guardian The Conservatives have pushed through a duty on the water regulator […]

24 Apr 2024

Investigation by The Guardian The majority of UK dairy farms are breaking pollution rules, with vast amounts of cow manure being spilled into rivers. When animal waste enters the river, it causes a buildup of the nutrients found in the effluent, such as nitrates and phosphates. These cause algal blooms, which deplete the waterway of […]

23 Apr 2024

Research in the Science Advances journal has published results showing significant deposition of PFAAs from ocean sea spray. Forever chemicals Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are synthetic organic chemicals found globally in the environment due to their extensive use in various consumer and industrial applications and are often referred to as ‘forever chemicals’. Perfluoroalkyl acids […]

17 Apr 2024

The Farming Minister has announced a new plan to better protect and preserve the River Wye for future generations, including up to £35 million in funding and the appointment of a new ‘River Champion’ and taskforce. The River Wye and its surrounding area is cherished by residents and visitors, however, the condition of the river […]