A Guardian investigation has spoken to whistleblowers who say UK water companies are knowingly failing to treat legally required amounts of sewage, and that some treatment works are manipulating wastewater systems to divert raw sewage away from the works and into rivers and seas. It is well known that water companies are dumping large volumes […]
The Environment Agency has published its Methane Action Plan for 2024 to 2026, setting out how it will reduce methane emissions in England. The Agency will use our powers as an environmental regulator and share knowledge and good practice to reduce methane emissions in the UK and internationally. This plan has 3 main objectives: improve […]
Following last week’s publication of storm overflow spill data for 2023, covered in last week’s news, the sewage has really been hitting the fan The BBC highlighted that sewage spills into England’s rivers and seas by water companies more than doubled last year. According to the Environment Agency there were 3.6 million hours of spills […]
The Environment Agency has published guidance on emerging techniques for the production of hydrogen from water using electrolysis. The guidance – developed in consultation with industry, other UK regulators and other stakeholders – will help businesses design and develop industrial facilities for the production of green hydrogen, a low carbon energy carrier that is a key feature […]
Heavy rainfall in the autumn and winter is thought to be behind the huge increase in raw sewage discharges just announced by the Environment Agency. Latest figures show more than 4m hours of discharges were poured into rivers and seas last year, a 129% increase on the previous 12 months. Total discharges from the 14,000 […]
The Environment Agency has published a review of England’s revised draft regional and water resources management plans, to identify whether the plans proposed by water companies will secure resilient and sustainable water supplies up to 2050. The Agency found nearly 5bn litres per day, which is more than a third of the 14bn litres of […]
A joint statement between DLUHC, Defra, the Environment Agency and Greater Cambridge councils (Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire districts) sets out the government’s position on addressing concerns raised about water scarcity issues in the Greater Cambridge area, which have led to a sizeable number of sites remaining in the planning process. This is published alongside […]
The Environment Agency (EA) consultation on charge proposals for water quality permits closed this week. the proposals would see charges increase significantly, especially for water companies. The Worshipful Company of Water Conservators (WCWC) has published its considered response. The WCWC welcomes the increase of resources for the Environment Agency to inspect sewage effluents and suggests […]