18 Jun 2026
Image description: The River Thames flowing beneath Tower Bridge. Photo by Pietro De Grandi on Unsplash Researchers at the University of East London (UEL) have launched a study into microplastic pollution in the River Thames to inform environmental policy and water quality decisions. Led by Dr Ria Devereux of UEL’s Sustainability Research Institute, the […]
18 Jun 2026
Image description: River Tees flowing through a forest alongside Barnard Castle, County Durham. Photo by Tom Maclean on Unsplash Climate change could push UK rivers to dangerous extremes and bring more frequent rapid swings between wet and dry conditions, a phenomenon known as hydroclimatic whiplash, according to research led by the University of East […]
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 Iain on Unsplash The UK and Ireland’s largest freshwater lake, Lough Neagh, is under threat from commercial sand dredging, according to new research published in the Journal of Environmental Management. The study, led by Queen’s University Belfast in collaboration with Newcastle University, is reportedly the first-of-its-kind and researchers found that disturbance created […]
11 Mar 2025
The Hidden Sands project hopes new hi-tech surveillance could improve the enforcement of sand mining regulations and improve resilience for these riverbed communities. Photo by Pok Rie Sand plays a central role in modern society (e.g. smartphones – high-purity silica sand is essential for making silicon chips) and urban development (e.g. skyscrapers – […]
20 Feb 2025
New published research has found that chlorinating drinking water at levels common in the United States and European Union probably increases the risk of several cancers. The process of disinfecting water with chlorine creates trihalomethane (THM) byproducts, which are found in virtually all public drinking water systems across the US and EU – […]
20 Feb 2025
UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR), the leading research organisation for the UK water industry, has announced the appointment of Mike Rose as new Chief Executive Officer with immediate effect. Photo credit: UKWIR With a career including senior positions in utilities and global consultancy organisations, Rose brings diverse experience to UKWIR. His appointment comes […]
13 Feb 2025
New research published in New Scientist says that severe droughts that persist for years have grown hotter, drier and larger since the 1980s. These long-lasting droughts – some of which are extreme enough to be classified as “megadroughts” – can be especially devastating to agriculture and ecosystems. Photo credit: Yusuf Gündüz Rising temperatures […]
