08 Sep 2022
Testing of rivers in England has fallen dramatically in the past 10 years, with experts warning it leaves a vacuum of knowledge about the effects of pollution. Environment Agency data shows its river testing has fallen from nearly 100,000 samples a year in 2012 to 41,519 in 2021 – the lowest level of sampling in 20 years […]
01 Sep 2022
Sir James Bevan, the CEO of the Environment Agency, has said that Britons need to be ‘less squeamish’ about drinking water from sewage. Writing in the Sunday Times [paywall] and reported in the Guardian and Evening Standard. He said it was “perfectly safe and healthy, but not something many fancy”. Sir James Bevan outlined measures […]
30 Aug 2022
The Environment Agency has released a research report, ‘The extent and zonation of saltmarsh in England 2016 – 2019’ The report examines the overall picture of change in saltmarsh extent in England over a decade: 2006-2009 to 2016-2019. In 2011, the Environment Agency published the first saltmarsh national inventory mapped from aerial imagery captured between 2006 […]
25 Aug 2022
Environment Agency CEO calls for “complete gear change” in how water companies and water users think about how they use water. The National Drought Group (NDG), made up of senior decision-makers from the Environment Agency, government, water companies and key representative groups met again (23 August) under the chairmanship of Sir James Bevan, […]
17 Aug 2022
Most parts of the UK have seen significant rainfall over the last few days, but the drought is not over. Latest news includes Hosepipe bans in Yorkshire Water (from 26 Aug) and potentially Thames Water Environment Secretary meeting with water companies Sir John Armitt, chair of the National Infrastructure Commission, calling for greater investment in […]
03 Aug 2022
Following last week’s piece about the EA’s convening of the National Drought Group, the National Infrastructure Commission has warned of emergency queues on the streets, without swift and extensive hosepipe ban and compulsory water metering. This follows the driest July in England since 1935. Reported in the Guardian, “a national hosepipe ban should be implemented […]
28 Jul 2022
Wild Atlantic salmon stocks are reaching crisis point the Environment Agency (EA) has said) as the latest stock assessment report estimates they are at their lowest levels on record. UK rivers are traditional breeding grounds for Atlantic salmon and are classed as an iconic species in our rivers, however, many factors are impacting on their […]
28 Jul 2022
Communities suffering repeated flooding will benefit from a new ring-fenced £100 million allowance designed to better protect their properties, the UK Government has announced. The £100 million Frequently Flooded Allowance will improve access to public funding for these communities, which are often smaller areas requiring more complex flood schemes, meaning that community-wide defences are not […]
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