27 Aug 2026
Image description: Blue-green algae (Cyanobacteria) in the canal network in Bruges, Belgium Image credit: P Mantha on Unsplash Blue-green algae blooms causing mass disruption Successive heatwaves across the UK this summer have triggered a wave of blue-green algae blooms in rivers, lakes and coastal waters, causing widespread disruption to swimmers and raising deeper concerns […]
27 Aug 2026
Image description: A farmer wearing a blue shirt and orange dungarees squats next to a line of sprouting crops. Image credit: Sivalingam and Molly Vasanthakumar,Woodland Farm National Drought Group to meet weekly as drought conditions persist The National Drought Group has moved to weekly meetings as drought conditions continue to intensify, despite the recent […]
20 Aug 2026
Photo by Sarah Doffman on Unsplash The UK Government has published a revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which introduces a dedicated flood risk and coastal change chapter (Policies F1-F9), bringing greater visibility and structure to flood risk planning policy. The framework introduces policy W1, which requires development plans to be informed by early […]
20 Aug 2026
Photo by Dibakar Roy on Unsplash Countries around the world are bracing for food price rises as a result of damage to harvests from record heat and lack of water, and the World Food Programme predicts that 50 million more people could be pushed into hunger by the “super El Niño” weather system currently developing. It is […]
20 Aug 2026
Photo by Emma Wurfel on Unsplash Thames Water on alert to re-activate UK’s only mainland desalination plant The UK’s only mainland desalination plant may be restarting operations later this year, says Thames Water. The utility firm, which operates the plant in Beckton, east London, is on alert to activate the facility as London reservoir […]
20 Aug 2026
Photo by Johnny Such on Unsplash The UK government announced a £65mn funding package on Friday (14 August), to improve water access and drought resilience for struggling farmers. The measures announced include up to £15 million for on-farm reservoirs and plans to make it easier to develop new water storage infrastructure. Using the “C” word […]
20 Aug 2026
Photo by Jonathan Bean on Unsplash While some parts of the UK are set to receive the “first meaningful rain for a long time” in the coming days, it reportedly will not be sufficient reverse widespread drought conditions that continue to strain wildlife, farmers, firefighters and water resources. According to Environment Agency data from […]
20 Aug 2026
Photo by Tom Wheatley on Unsplash Where are the water company emergency drought plans? The Guardian reports that the UK government is being accused of acting irresponsibly by refusing to publish water companies’ emergency drought plans. Water firms are required to publish statutory drought plans every five years to set out how they will […]
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