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Friday, March 14, 2025
LATEST NEWS
Environmental News
New water quality data sheds light on health of rivers in Wales
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has published new data on phosphorus levels in Welsh Special Area of Conservation (SAC) rivers. The data shows small improvements, while interim water quality classifications for Welsh rivers hold steady.
Collaborative and concerted efforts to tackle...
Government, Policy & Regulation
Environment Secretary Steve Reed highlights Havant Thicket reservoir as a prime example of private sector investment driving forward major infrastructure projects
Environment Secretary Steve Reed visited Havant Thicket reservoir this week as part of the ‘Things Can Only Get Cleaner’ tour that he and Water Minister Emma Hardy are making. The Havant Thicket reservoir is the first reservoir to be built...
Government, Policy & Regulation
Minister for Water and Flooding, Emma Hardy, visits North Cave Wetlands to see how nature-based solutions help flooding
The North Cave Wetlands nature reserve was the final location on the nationwide ‘Things Can Only Get Cleaner’ water tour by Defra Ministers.
Minister for Water and Flooding, Emma Hardy, visited the 140-hectare site near Brough, East Yorkshire. Once a sand...
Environmental News
Aardman film spotlights groundwater flooding in new national initiative
Aardman, the multi-award-winning studio behind the beloved Wallace & Gromit franchise, has partnered with a national initiative to highlight the devastating impact of groundwater flooding with a new short film, Darcy’s Tale.
The film follows Darcy, a lonely mole searching...
Awards, Charity & Funding
Leeds flood alleviation scheme wins top civil engineering award
Phase 2 of a major flood alleviation scheme to protect the city of Leeds from the River Aire won a major award at the Institution of Civil Engineers' annual Civil Engineering Awards.
The region's 70th annual awards ceremony which celebrates...
Government, Policy & Regulation
Andrew Muir launches corporate plan, setting strategic direction for DAERA
Northern Ireland's Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister, Andrew Muir, has launched a 10-point Corporate Plan, setting a strategic direction for the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) for 2025-2027.
One of the 10 key pledges is the...
Government, Policy & Regulation
Environment Secretary Steve Reed visits Cambridge to discuss the region’s urgent water needs
Environment Secretary Steve Reed met with key stakeholders in Cambridge to discuss the region’s urgent water needs.
Without urgent investment in water infrastructure and demand reductions, the East of England is expected to face a water deficit of around 600...
Water Company News
A new documentary, Thames Water: Inside the Crisis, set to air on BBC Two
A new documentary, Thames Water: Inside the Crisis, is set to air on BBC Two next week, featuring exclusive behind-the-headlines access to Britain’s largest water company as it battles for survival.
The two-part series captures the troubled utility’s attempts to...
Industry News
SSE and Scottish Water Horizons partner to deliver low-carbon heat networks harnessing the untapped potential of wastewater
SSE Energy Solutions and Scottish Water Horizons have today announced a new strategic partnership to develop low-carbon district heat networks across Scotland, accelerating the country's journey toward net zero.
Under the agreement, the organisations will collaborate to identify, develop and...
Government, Policy & Regulation
ICE welcomes Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Darren Jones, to annual All-Party Parliamentary Group on Infrastructure reception
Members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Infrastructure (APPGI), senior industry leaders, and Members of Parliament, gathered this week at One Great George Street in Westminster, the historic headquarters of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).
Guests listened to...
Market Analysis & Research
New research finds that Wildlife Trust natural flood management schemes deliver £10 of benefit for every £1 invested
A new report commissioned by RSA Insurance, an Intact company, and The Wildlife Trusts shows that every £1 invested in natural flood management (NFM) is expected to deliver £10 of benefits over 30 years.
Nature is one of the best...
Environmental News
SEPA launches new surface water and small watercourses flood maps
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has unveiled new surface water flood maps, which for the first time include small watercourses. This new level of detail provides Scotland with the most detailed and accurate picture of where flooding could...
Government, Policy & Regulation
Residents across the North East of England to benefit from investment in “smart sewers” that reduce sewage spills
Residents across the North East of England are benefiting from investment in “smart sewers” that use cutting-edge technology to reduce sewage spills and clean up the environment.
Visiting Northumbrian Water’s Howdon Sewage Treatment works on 12 March, Water Minister Emma...
Government, Policy & Regulation
Bathing water reforms keep pace with Britain’s love of swimming
As part of this first shake-up to our bathing waters since 2013, the government is developing plans to expand the definition of ‘bathers’ to include participants in water sports other than swimming, such as paddle boarders and surfers.
To make...
Appointments
Scottish Government launches recruitment campaign for new WICS Board Members
The Scottish Government has announced up to three vacancies for members of the Water Industry Commission for Scotland's (WICS) Board.
WICS was established under the Water Industry Act 2002 to undertake the economic regulation of Scottish Water. The Commission is...
Event News
New theatres and networking opportunities await at this year’s WWEM Expo
Since the acquisition of Water, Wastewater & Environmental Monitoring (WWEM) Expo by ROAR B2B, 6 months ago, the new organiser says the exhibition is taking shape as part of an impressive line-up of ROAR B2B events dedicated to the...
Industry News
Europump welcomes acceptance onto the EU Ecodesign Forum to foster sustainable practices in the pump industry
Europump, the European Association of Pump Manufacturers, has announced its official acceptance onto the newly established European Commission Ecodesign Forum.
This forum aims to accelerate the transition to more sustainable products and services in line with the EU's broader...
Awards, Charity & Funding
The untapped green benefits of clean water projects
Access to clean drinking water is a basic human necessity for health and well-being. When we consider clean water initiatives, we naturally focus on their transformative impact on health, hygiene, and community development. Yet beyond these well-document benefits list...
Appointments
Cranfield academic appointed to prestigious science committee
Dr Theresa Mercer, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Sustainability at Cranfield University, has been appointed to the Science Committee of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).
The Science Committee provides strategic advice to NERC’s Executive and Council, shaping the development and...
Water Company News
£4.2m River Nidd water quality investment completed at Shaw Mills wastewater treatment works
A £4.2m Yorkshire Water project at the Shaw Mills wastewater treatment works near Harrogate, which will improve water quality in Thornley Beck and the river Nidd, is now complete.
The work, delivered by Eric Wright Water, has seen the installation...
Government, Policy & Regulation
UK and Welsh Government unite in £1m fund to transform River Wye
The Welsh and UK Government have announced a new £1 million joint research initiative to tackle water quality issues in the River Wye.
The Welsh Deputy First Minister, Huw Irranca-Davies, and UK Government’s Water Minister, Emma Hardy, made the announcement...
Government, Policy & Regulation
Water Minister Emma Hardy visits the £35 million expansion of the Saltford Water Recycling Plant which will support economic and residential growth in Bath
Communities in Bath are set to benefit from new jobs, economic growth, and improved water quality on the River Avon with the expansion of the Saltford Water Recycling Plant.
After years of failure, our water infrastructure is crumbling, and public...
Government, Policy & Regulation
Lords nitrogen inquiry to hear from wastewater experts
The House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee continues its inquiry into the efficient use and management of reactive nitrogen by focussing on the role of the wastewater sector.
The session will start at 10am on Wednesday 12 March...
Industry News
London’s super sewer now fully connected – promising a greener, healthier River Thames
Tideway has announced the successful activation of the new super sewer, ushering in a healthier future for London’s iconic river.
After ten years of construction the last of 21 connections has been made between the original Victorian sewers and the...
Water Company News
£29m upgrade at Leyland Wastewater Treatment Works is almost complete
A three-year project to upgrade Leyland’s Wastewater Treatment Works is nearing completion.
As part of its commitment to improving river quality, United Utilities has carried out a major upgrade at the treatment works. The project which began in 2022 will...
Water Company News
Scottish Water completes £675,000 solar scheme in Bathgate
Scottish Water has completed a £675,000 solar scheme at its waste water treatment works in Bathgate, as part of its drive to reach net zero emissions by 2040.
The project has seen 792 ground-mounted PV (photovoltaic) panels installed at the...
Government, Policy & Regulation
Environment Secretary Steve Reed to set out government ambition to end sewage discharged into Windermere
Environment Secretary Steve Reed has pledged to ‘clean up Windermere’ setting out the Government’s support for the long-term ambition of ‘only rainwater’ entering England’s largest lake.
This comes ahead of a thorough feasibility study – established by the ‘Only Rainwater’...
Government, Policy & Regulation
Scotland’s drier than normal winter signals risk of water scarcity this summer
Scotland’s Environment Protection Agency, SEPA, has warned that despite intermittent wet spells, most of the country has recorded below-average rainfall over winter following a particularly dry autumn.
With December and the start of January experiencing brief periods of heavy rain...