16 Jan 2025

The UK Water Report says the Environment Agency (EA) has found catchment nutrient balancing (CNB) to be “ineffective and unworkable as a regulatory mechanism”. Ahead of Christmas, it told water companies it was minded to withdraw CNB permitting as a regulatory mechanism for wastewater treatment works discharges – from the start of AMP8. CNB allows water […]

27 Nov 2024

The Environment Agency has published the outputs of a project exploring new approaches for examining the impact of droughts on English catchments and water supply systems, with the aim of increasing preparedness and understanding the range of interventions to take in different droughts.   Photo credit: Tom Fisk   Background This project explored new approaches […]

14 May 2024

The government has announced £11.5m extra funding to boost tree planting, habitat restoration and flood management across England through the Water Environment Improvement Fund. Projects to be funded this year include: The Limestone Becks River Restoration project in Lincolnshire, which will provide improved habitats for wildlife from water voles to invertebrates; Phase II of The York […]

10 Apr 2024

Up to £11 million in water company fines and penalties will be reinvested back into a new Water Restoration Fund (WRF), Environment Secretary Steve Barclay announced this week. All water company environmental fines and penalties since April 2022 have been ringfenced to directly improve the water environment. The Water Restoration Fund will offer grant funding […]

30 Jan 2024

Defra has published documents showing the catchment areas wholly or partly in England which have been designated as sensitive under section 96C of the Water Industry Act. The documents include the designation notice and a map of the sensitive catchment areas. They have been designated due to the habitats site related to the catchment being […]

14 Sep 2021

From Utility Week and Yorkshire Water Ben Aston, biodiversity specialist at Yorkshire Water, sheds light on the firm’s joint investment in pollinator superhighways and their impact on managing its water catchments. Yorkshire Water recently revealed that surveys are underway at six of its sites – Fewston, Swinsty, Thruscross, Embsay, Grimwith and Barden reservoirs – after […]

20 Apr 2021

Defra & EA – Update to the RBMPs The Environment Agency must review and update RBMPs every 6 years. Their review and update of the current RBMPs is underway. They expect the consultation on the draft RBMPs to start in 2021. The Environment Agency has concluded that the requirement for a strategic environmental assessment for the third cycle review of the river […]

19 May 2020

Yorkshire Water has been shortlisted for an award celebrating its contribution to conserving the natural environment. The Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management Awards recognise the success of projects, businesses and individuals who have made significant contributions to protecting the natural environment. Yorkshire Water is one of three shortlisted for the Large-Scale Practical Nature […]