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 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 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 […]
13 Aug 2026
Image description: A hand holding a glass under a running tap to fill it with water. Image by Swanky Fella on Unsplash Hundreds of residents in blocks of flats in east London have been left without regular running water for more than seven months, as suspicions are raised whether a development in the area may […]
13 Aug 2026
Image description: Someone holding a black biro pen to fill out a survey on a blue clipboard. Image credit: Phil Hearing on Unsplash Almost nine in 10 people support the building of a new £6.6bn reservoir in Oxfordshire according to a new survey shared by Thames Water. Thames Water said 89% of 2,004 adults surveyed […]
13 Aug 2026
Image description: Panoramic views of Hertfordshire’s rural heartland. The short-cut agricultural grass is yellowed and dry. Image credits: Photo by Jan Kraus on Unsplash 45 million people in England now experiencing drought Drought conditions in England have continued to persist with a dry start to August, putting almost three-quarters of England in drought, affecting […]
13 Aug 2026
Image description: Hands wearing blue plastic gloves taking a water sample from a pond using a pipette and brown glass sampling bottle. New data published by EA paints a ‘very concerning’ picture for England’s waterways The Environment Agency’s (EA) latest data, published 6 August 2026, showed that just 14% of England’s rivers, lakes, estuaries […]
