28 Aug 2024
Improving customer service and support during incidents
Ofwat and CCW, the consumer body for water, have published the final report from a programme of research into people’s experience of water incidents, including supply interruptions, drinking water quality problems and odour. Key themes that emerged included a lack of customer focus in incident management and inadequate communications. Ofwat also provided suggestions and good […]
28 Aug 2024
March for clean water
The March for Clean Water will be held in London on 26 October to press the government to do more to clean up Britain’s rivers, lakes and seas. Activist Feargal Sharkey is heading up the protest, which has been organised by River Action and backed by a growing number of environmental, sports and community groups. […]
28 Aug 2024
NFM projects deliver benefits for nature
Two new natural flood management schemes in the south east of England Chearsley Wetland – a thriving new habitat on River Thame Partnership project transforms 17 hectares of floodplain grassland into complex wetland habitat at Manor Farm. Flourishing wildlife and flood management. Chearsley Wetland recently marked its two-year anniversary, which has seen the site transformed […]
28 Aug 2024
Citizen science needed for ponds
The Freshwater Habitats Trust is asking citizen scientists to help find ponds that support declining species More than one in five ponds in the UK could be designated as “priority habitats” but only about 2% have been identified so far. Priority ponds are recognised as being the highest-quality water spaces for freshwater wildlife, often providing […]
28 Aug 2024
Cooling power of urban trees misunderstood
Trees for Cities has published the results of a new national survey which shows that most UK adults don’t know the full cooling power of urban trees. As cities experience hotter temperatures due to climate change, people’s health and wellbeing is being put at risk. Trees are one of the best nature-based solutions to offer […]
28 Aug 2024
Strategic water resource schemes to be easier
Ofwat has published details of how it will consider projects as part of the RAPID (Regulators’ Alliance to Progress Infrastructure Development) programme going forward, the overall portfolio of RAPID projects and the approach to the gated process, including expected deliverables. Ofwat will relax the strict criteria it applied to water resource solutions at PR19 – […]
28 Aug 2024
Coagulants best at removing microplastics
New research has been published looking at enhancing microplastic removal from natural water using coagulant aids. Highlights Larger microbeads (1 mm – >250 μm) have >95 % removal; smaller ones (10 – <250 μm) are challenging. Denser microbeads like PVC (1.38 g/cm³) settle better than lighter ones like PE (0.97 g/cm³). PAC (0.4 mmol/L) with 3 mg/L PAM at pH 8 removes […]