30 Oct 2024

Innovative approaches to flood and coastal resilience taken by the Environment Agency, local authorities and local partners are helping to unlock significant wider social, economic and environmental benefits for people, places, and wildlife. The Environment Agency has published its mid-programme report for its £200 million Flood and Coastal Innovation Programmes. The report details what has been […]

09 Oct 2024

The Environment Agency has published analysis of the water resources management plan annual review submissions from water companies across England for the period April 2023 to March 2024.   Credit: Tom Fisk   According to the Agency, this reporting year’s wet weather has provided respite for the industry following the widespread drought conditions in 2022. […]

09 Oct 2024

Bathing water quality at some of England’s highest-rated beaches can decline sharply during the autumn and winter months, according to an internal Environment Agency (EA) study completed earlier this year, seen by Unearthed. Each year, designated swimming spots are sampled for bacteria between mid-May and late-September. Based on these summertime tests, each swimming spot is […]

02 Oct 2024

Recent flooding has led to localised river and surface water flooding across central England, Yorkshire and the North East. Further rainfall over the last few days means minor, localised river flooding impacts across England, including parts of Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham and the East. At 2pm on Tuesday, there were 47 flood warnings, showing flooding is expected, […]

02 Oct 2024

The Environment Agency has provided indicative, catchment-scale source apportionment and estimated diffuse sector reductions required to meet protected area water quality target The Environment Agency has published a new report highlighting indicative, catchment-scale source apportionment and estimated diffuse sector reductions required to meet protected area water quality targets. Although the results are indicative, and not […]

02 Oct 2024

Around 70 crayfish from the internationally important River Wansbeck population – one of the last remaining strongholds of the species – have been found dead. Testing has already ruled out the listed disease white spot syndrome virus as well as crayfish plague, and water quality testing has ruled out pollution. Further testing is being carried […]

25 Sep 2024

Helen Wakeham, Director of Water, writes how public concern around pollution in England’s waterways has increased markedly in recent years, with the actions of water companies, and particularly pollution from storm overflow discharges receiving widespread attention. She says that World Rivers Day presents a good opportunity to not only take a look at the state […]

05 Sep 2024

The campaign group Fighting Dirty has lost its case against the Environment Agency at the High Court today (August 21), on the crucial issue of spreading toxic sewage sludge on farmland. The judge ruled that the Environment Agency was not obliged to change its policy when the former Conservative Secretary of State for Environment failed to act. […]