02 Apr 2026
Image description: Two large pipes extend into choppy ocean water. Image by Jennifer Simmons / Unsplash Water companies released raw sewage into England’s rivers and seas almost 300,000 times last year, equivalent to a 35% reduction in spill numbers compared with 2024, according to the latest Environment Agency (EA) figures. Alongside a substantial fall in average spills […]
19 Mar 2026
Image description: A silver car submerged in flood water. Photo by Wes Warren on Unsplash More than 600 projects in England will be receiving a share of £1.4bn in government funding to “help protect tens of thousands of homes and businesses”. The Environment Agency says that project plans span improved flood barriers and embankments […]
17 Mar 2026
Photo by Ivan Bandura South West Water has pleaded guilty to 18 charges of water pollution spanning six years, in a prosecution brought by the Environment Agency that concluded at Plymouth Magistrates Court on 12 March 2026. Sentencing is expected on 4 June 2026. The charges relate to illegal discharges including raw sewage spills at five […]
12 Mar 2026
Image description: A river with boats moored. Photo by Victoria Feliniak on Unsplash The Environment Agency (EA) has awarded £430,000 payout to the West Country Rivers Trust, following six clay pollution incidents in Cornwall by Imerys Minerals Limited. The EA confirmed the payment after its investigation found multiple failures at Imerys operations, including damaged […]
05 Mar 2026
Image description: A polluted river with a plastic bottle floating on the surface. Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash Thousands of serious pollution incidents by water companies in England were allegedly downgraded by Environment Agency (EA) staff without visiting to investigate, the Guardian has exclusively revealed via a whistleblower’s account. New data was unearthed […]
05 Mar 2026
Image description: A landscape photo of a section of the River Thames at sunrise. Photo by Paul Macallan on Unsplash The Environment Agency and the University of Stirling have published a new report on the links between phosphorus concentrations and ecology in English rivers. While phosphorus is an essential nutrient for the growth of […]
19 Feb 2026
Image description: A wide view of a lake, grass and mountains in Cockermouth Cumbria. Photo by Joy Roxas on Unsplash Discovery and investigation of ‘toxic pollution hotspots’ The Guardian has exclusively revealed a number of ‘toxic pollution hotspots’ has been uncovered across Cumbria and Lancashire, with high levels of the banned cancer-causing “forever chemical” Pfos detected in rivers and groundwater at 25 sites. Pfos is a type of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (Pfas), […]
13 Jan 2026
Photo by Chris Mitchell A pollution incident involving millions of plastic bio-beads washing ashore on Sussex beaches has been upgraded to the most serious Category 1 classification by the Environment Agency. The move means Southern Water could face the most severe set of sanctions following investigation into the incident. The micro-beads were accidentally released […]
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