23 Apr 2026

Photo by Brandon on Unsplash   Scientists are increasingly detecting common human drugs making their way into rivers, lakes and oceans around the world, with largely unknown consequences for aquatic wildlife. A first-of-its-kind study has revealed traces of cocaine polluting rivers and lakes may accumulate in the brains of salmon and disrupt their behaviour, with […]

23 Apr 2026

Photo by Marina Helena Muller on Unsplash   The Guardian has exclusively revealed pet owners across the UK could be banned from buying flea treatment for cats and dogs under new government rules, in response to fears over their impact on songbirds, fish and other aquatic creatures. Presently flea and tick treatments, commonly imidacloprid and […]

15 Apr 2026

Image description: Aerial view of Ilkley wetland project run by Yorkshire Water. Image credit: Yorkshire Water. Work has officially begun on a nature-based wetland in Ilkley, marking the next chapter of a £60 million investment to improve water treatment and the water quality of the river Wharfe.  The project forms part of Yorkshire Water’s largest ever environmental […]

15 Apr 2026

Image description: People walking past the Palace of Westminster in the rain. Photo by Heidi Fin on Unsplash Calls for a referendum on water company ownership  Two campaigners who prominently featured in the recent Channel 4 docudrama Dirty Business have launched a petition calling for a referendum on water company ownership.   As reported in the BBC, Ash Smith and […]

02 Apr 2026

Image description: A person wearing black signing a document, with papers spread across a table, Photo by Dimitri Karastelev on Unsplash   A fine-free window in exchange for investment commitments Thames Water is reported to be close to an agreement with Ofwat that would shield the company from new fines for four years, provided it […]

02 Apr 2026

Image description: Two people shaking hands across a desk in an interview. Photo by Mina Rad on Unsplash. New rules have come into force from 1 April 2026, requiring new water company executives to pass a fit and proper person test to hold these senior positions, and ensure consumers are properly centred in companies’ decision […]

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 […]