The government’s environmental watchdog, the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP), has identified possible failures to comply with environmental law by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Environment Agency and Ofwat in relation to the regulation of combined sewer overflows (CSOs). The failures relate to a possible misinterpretation of the law, which […]
The BBC reports that firefighters are using treated sewage water after droughts. The article actually describes the use of treated and disinfected *wastewater* to put out fires, rather than abstracting from rivers and lakes in areas of water stress.
A legal claim has been issued against six UK water companies who are facing legal collective actions for allegedly abusing their dominant market position by underreporting the number of times they cause pollution incidents and overcharging customers as a result. The case is covered in the Guardian which says the claim on behalf of 20 […]
Observer investigation reveals the shocking state of the country’s protected freshwater sites of special scientific interest. More than 90% of freshwater habitats on England’s most precious rivers are in unfavourable condition, blighted by farming pollution, raw sewage and water abstraction, an Observer investigation reveals. None of the approximately 40 rivers with protected habitats in England […]
Our seas and rivers have never been in a worse state after years of neglect by the water companies. Now, we routinely check the sewage app alongside the weather. Meet the new CEO of Surfers Against Sewage who plans to turn the tide. Lyme Regis on the south coast of England is an old and […]
A major new Unearthed investigation highlights how sewage is affecting nature. According to Greenpeace, the investigation has revealed that sewage poured into England and Wales’ most-precious conservation sites for more than 300,000 hours in 2022. Over the past five months, Unearthed has been conducting an analysis of data on water companies’ sewage spills in sites […]
Preventing excessive sewage discharges requires long-term decision-making, according to a new ICE insight paper. Sewage discharges into the UK’s rivers and onto beaches have attracted significant attention recently. They have increased in many areas due to urban expansion, changing weather patterns, and ageing infrastructure. They occur because large parts of the UK have a combined […]
Yorkshire Water and Fera Science Ltd are collaborating in early-stage research to explore and test the feasibility of using insect bioconversion to manage sewage sludge. Richard Kershaw, Waste Water Innovation Programme Manager, Yorkshire Water said: “Yorkshire Water is committed to exploring innovative approaches to dealing with the most challenging aspects of waste water management, including sewage sludge. The science […]