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Drought declared in north-west of England

Government, Policy & Regulation
The Environment Agency has declared drought status for the north-west of England following the driest start to spring in 69 years. River flows have been...
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Environment Secretary Steve Reed takes control of the planning process for two new reservoirs

Government, Policy & Regulation
The Environment Secretary, Steve Reed, has today taken control of the planning process for two new reservoirs, in an intervention to speed up delivery. Anglian...
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Why water safety training matters

Industry News
Working near water is hazardous. If employees are unequipped with the knowledge, training, and equipment needed to respond effectively in an emergency—either involving themselves...
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Government Taskforce meets on Merseyside to bolster nation’s flood resilience

Government, Policy & Regulation
Bolstering the nation’s resilience to flooding, including in Merseyside, was top of the agenda as the Government’s national Floods Resilience Taskforce convened in Aintree...
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Record 81 criminal investigations launched into water companies under Government crackdown

Government, Policy & Regulation
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has revealed a record total of 81 criminal investigations into water companies have been launched...
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Steve Reed says Thames Water’s attempt to circumvent the ban on executive bonuses by renaming them was the “wrong thing to do”

Government, Policy & Regulation
During the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee session on the morning of May 20, 2025, Environment Secretary Steve Reed MP addressed concerns...
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Government responds to OEP report on the Environmental Principles Policy Statement

Government, Policy & Regulation
The government has said it welcomes the Office for Environmental Protection’s (OEP’s) report ‘A review of implementation of the duty to have due regard...
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EFRA Committee to quiz Defra Secretary of State, Steve Reed, about Thames Water situation

Government, Policy & Regulation
The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA), which is appointed by the House of Commons to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of...
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Polluting water bosses face up to two years in prison

Government, Policy & Regulation
Water company bosses could face up to two years in prison due to new powers in force today, Friday 25 April 2025.   The new powers,...
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Regulators have failed to deliver a trusted and resilient water sector, says the National Audit Office

Government, Policy & Regulation
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and water regulators have failed to drive necessary investment for the sector in the past...
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Second reading of the Chalk Steams (Protection) Bill to take place in Parliament this week

Government, Policy & Regulation
The second reading of the Chalk Streams (Protection) Bill, which will give chalk streams an enhanced status to protect them from pollution and environmental...
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Environment Secretary Steve Reed announces major reforms to environmental regulation

Government, Policy & Regulation
Major reforms to environmental regulation have been announced by Environment Secretary Steve Reed, which he says will create a more dynamic, streamlined approach to help...
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OEP welcomes decision in Pickering Fishery Association case on water quality laws

Government, Policy & Regulation
The Office for Environmental Protection says it welcomes yesterday's (Wednesday, 2 April) Court of Appeal decision on the correct interpretation of the law to...
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Environment Secretary describes the number of spills from storm overflows as “disgraceful” after new figures released

Government, Policy & Regulation
The Environment Secretary has described the number of spills from storm overflows as “disgraceful” as new figures were released by the Environment Agency yesterday...
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Tony Juniper CBE reappointed as Chair of Natural England for a third term

Appointments & People
The Environment Secretary, Steve Reed, confirmed on Monday 24th March that Tony Juniper CBE has been reappointed as Chair of Natural England for a...
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OEP launches investigation into possible failures by Defra and the Environment Agency to comply with key laws to protect and improve water quality

Government, Policy & Regulation
The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has launched an investigation into possible failures by Defra and the Environment Agency to comply with the Water...
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River Thames Lock Keepers set for strike vote over safety fears, GMB warns Government

Government, Policy & Regulation
River Thames weir and lock keepers are set to ballot for industrial action over safety concerns, GMB has warned the Government.   In a letter...
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Minister for Water and Flooding, Emma Hardy, visits North Cave Wetlands to see how nature-based solutions help flooding

Government, Policy & Regulation
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...
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Aardman film spotlights groundwater flooding in new national initiative

Environmental News
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...
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Environment Secretary Steve Reed visits Cambridge to discuss the region’s urgent water needs

Government, Policy & Regulation
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...
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Residents across the North East of England to benefit from investment in “smart sewers” that reduce sewage spills

Government, Policy & Regulation
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...
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UK and Welsh Government unite in £1m fund to transform River Wye

Government, Policy & Regulation
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...
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Water Minister Emma Hardy visits the £35 million expansion of the Saltford Water Recycling Plant which will support economic and residential growth in Bath

Government, Policy & Regulation
Communities in Bath are set to benefit from new jobs, economic growth, and improved water quality on the River Avon with the expansion of...
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Environment Secretary Steve Reed to set out government ambition to end sewage discharged into Windermere

Government, Policy & Regulation
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...
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Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 receives Royal Assent, boosting the powers of water sector regulators

Government, Policy & Regulation
The Water (Special Measures) Act 2025, first introduced into Parliament on 4 September 2024, received Royal Assent yesterday from King Charles III. Royal Assent is...
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Government says it welcomes the Office for Environmental Protection’s review of the implementation of current Bathing Water Regulations in England

Government, Policy & Regulation
The Government has said it welcomes the Office for Environmental Protection’s (OEP) review of the implementation of the current Bathing Water Regulations in England....
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Environmental Audit Committee questions whether the Government’s £2.65 billion investment in flood defences is being prioritised to the right projects

Government, Policy & Regulation
In a session focusing on infrastructure resilience, planning rules and the risk to farmers from floods, the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) will continue gathering...
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Record £2.65 billion to be committed to build or maintain up to 1,000 flood defences

Government, Policy & Regulation
The government has unveiled a record package to build new flood defences and maintain and repair those already in place.   As part of the Plan...
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Environment Agency secures record commitments from water sector of over £22bn to invest in the environment

Government, Policy & Regulation
The Environment Agency, working closely with Natural England, has secured the largest ever commitment from water companies to clean up the environment and invest...
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In response to Thames Water, Steve Reed tells EFRA Committee it’s not for Government to tell a private company how to manage their finances

Government, Policy & Regulation
The EFRA Committee has published two pieces of correspondence between the Committee and the Defra Secretary, Steve Reed. One is a letter from the Committee...
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OEP launches investigation into a suspected failure by Defra to take the necessary measures to achieve Good Environmental Status (GES) of marine waters

Government, Policy & Regulation
The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has launched an investigation into Defra in relation to a suspected failure to take the necessary measures to...
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Water companies to be forced to double compensation for failures

Government, Policy & Regulation
The Government has confirmed that water customers around the country will benefit from significantly higher payments to compensate them for water company service failures. Following public...
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Environment Agency publishes major update to national flood and coastal erosion risk assessment

Environmental News
The Environment Agency has published new data showing 6.3 million properties across England are based in areas at risk of flooding from one or...
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Storm Bert exposes urgent need for flood resilience and coastal adaptation, says CIWEM

Insight & Opinion
More heavy rain is set to fall in southern England and south Wales this week, adding to the chaos caused by Storm Bert, which...
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Environment Secretary holds meeting with Environment Agency to bolster Storm Bert response

Government, Policy & Regulation
Secretary of State Steve Reed has held a meeting with Environment Agency Chief Executive Philip Duffy to discuss the response to the flooding and...
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Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee to hear from DEFRA Minister

Government, Policy & Regulation
The House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee will hear from The Rt Hon Steve Reed MP, Secretary of State, Department for Environment,...
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