The Guardian has reported that guidance that would have allowed farmers to spread manures and slurry on land in a way that would overload it with nutrients and risk pollution of rivers, lakes and coastal waters has been changed by Defra, after a challenge over its lawfulness. Manures, which include sewage sludge, abattoir waste and […]
CIWEM release new report: River water quality and storm overflows – A systems-approach to maximising improvement Storm overflows from combined sewers and wastewater treatment works are currently discharging in thousands of locations and for millions of hours each year. Impacts on amenity and nature are unacceptable and solutions are needed. The reasons for this situation […]
As covered last week, thousands of people took part in the first National Day of Action on Water Quality on Saturday 23 April, a mass protest over water firms dumping sewage in rivers. Ocean conservation charity Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) joined forces with clean water campaign groups to organise simultaneous protests against water companies from Scotland to […]
Microplastics found in human blood for first time Microplastic pollution has been detected in human blood for the first time, with scientists finding the tiny particles in almost 80% of the people tested, the Guardian has reported. The discovery shows the particles can travel around the body and may lodge in organs. The impact on […]
Scotland’s rivers, lochs and wetlands are being restored back to good health, thanks to support from NatureScot’s Biodiversity Challenge Fund. In the past three years, the Scottish Government has invested £3.7m in 27 freshwater and river restoration projects across the country, using innovative, nature-based solutions to help reverse biodiversity loss and mitigate against the effects […]
On 17 March we covered a report by the Senedd’s Climate Change Committee which was calling on the Welsh Government to take urgent action to tackle sewage discharges made by water companies into Welsh rivers. There was a report of over 105,000 incidents of untreated sewage being dumped into Welsh rivers. Further information on this […]
Over 105,000 incidents of untreated sewage being dumped into Welsh rivers. A report by the Senedd’s Climate Change Committee is calling on the Welsh Government to take urgent action to tackle sewage discharges made by water companies into Welsh rivers. The report puts forward a series of recommendations to protect Welsh waterways, calling on the Minister […]
The Worshipful Company of Water Conservators – one of the 31 ‘modern’ Livery Companies formed in the City of London – has responded to the call for evidence on the proposal to designate Wolvercote Mill Stream as a Bathing Water. Within it they focus on the wider challenge of the delivery of safe inland bathing water and […]