26 Feb 2026
Image description: Rain drops falling into a shallow pool of water. Photo by reza shayestehpour on Unsplash Despite the South West region experiencing rainfall 62% higher than the national average in 2025, South West Water (SWW) has announced a 17% reduction in storm overflow use and a 25% in cut spill duration over the past […]
10 Nov 2021
Environment Bill storm overflows amendment Defra ‘There has been widespread coverage including in BBC News Online, the Independent the Guardian, the Express, the Sun, the Daily Mirror and the Press Association of the passing of the government’s amendment to the Environment Bill on storm overflows in the House of Commons yesterday evening. The new amendment strengthens the Environment Bill to ensure […]
10 Nov 2021
Defra ‘This week we published a report commissioned by the Storm Overflows Taskforce – made up of the Consumer Council for Water (CCW), Blueprint for Water, Water UK, the Environment Agency, Ofwat, and Defra – which outlines the evidence, costs and benefits of reducing the occurrence of storm overflow spills. This is the first assessment of its […]
28 Oct 2021
From the outset of the Cameron Conservative Government their mantra has been ‘As Conservatives, we are committed to leaving the environment in better condition than we inherited it’. If anyone was looking for evidence of how that hasn’t happened they need look no further that sewage pollution of rivers and the coast and the shambolic U turn of the last […]
07 Sep 2021
Emma Sheehan and colleagues Abstract ‘Marine protected areas (MPAs) are employed as tools to manage human impacts, especially fishing pressure. By excluding the most destructive activities MPAs can rewild degraded areas of seabed habitat. The potential for MPAs to increase ecosystem resilience from storms is, however, not understood, nor how such events impact seabed habitats. […]
31 Aug 2021
Government have made a number of changes to the Environment Bill prompted by collaborative campaign by the Wildlife groups. Defra: Landmark Environment Bill strengthened to halt biodiversity loss by 2030 New strengthened Government commitments to protect the environment for future generations made today in landmark Environment Bill amendments. The Government has strengthened its commitment to […]
24 Jun 2021
Work by Professor Peter Hammond published in a scientific journal is covered in the Guardian. It has prompted a meeting between him and Rebecca Pow, the Defra Minister responsible. Water Briefing ‘Government to hear evidence that unlawful discharge of raw sewage into rivers at least 10 times greater than prosecutions suggest. The Government is due to […]
24 Jun 2021
Ofwat David Black 18 June 2021 ‘Dear Chief Executive, Improving performance on the use of storm overflows In my new role as Ofwat’s Interim CEO I have been keen to meet with companies and stakeholders to hear more about the steps the sector is and will be taking to meet the challenges and ambitions of […]
