Environment Agency

Why water regulation is changing – and how Clear Waters is helping 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Environment Agency, Ofwat, Regulated industry, Rivers, Water, Water Monitoring
Image of the Clear Waters logo featuring the name within two green circular rings

Regulating the environmental performance of the water industry is a core Environment Agency function. Since 2023 we have been transforming the way we regulate the water industry. Backed by significant investment we are delivering increased scrutiny and oversight through a specialised workforce dedicated to each water and sewerage company.   We recognise that further change is needed and that improvements …

How does the Environment Agency manage abstraction to protect the environment?

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: agriculture, Climate change, Drought, Regulated industry, Rivers, Water
Image of a farm reservoir

Water is essential for drinking, farming, industry, wildlife and recreation. Managing our rivers, lakes, estuaries, wetlands and groundwater properly ensures the needs of society, the economy and nature can be met over the long term.  2026 has seen the driest July in 190 years, …

How the Joint Unit for Waste Crime is dismantling organised crime in the UK waste industry 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Environment Agency, Waste crime

Waste crime isn't fly-tipping. It's a billion-pound criminal enterprise in which organised crime groups exploit the waste industry to launder money, evade tax, undercut legitimate businesses, and pollute communities and the environment, while presenting themselves as lawful operators.  These criminals …

Regulating modular nuclear reactors – from design and R&D to the factory floor and site

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Environment Agency, Nuclear
Andy Pynn and Saffron Price-Finnerty examine a model of the modules.

Following Rolls-Royce SMR’s announcement about the new Pioneer Works facility in Derby, Andy Pynn, our strategic lead for nuclear new build, reflects on a visit he made to the company’s EXPERI facility at the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research …

Five years on: Remembering the July 2021 Floods 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Climate change, Environment Agency, Flood, Flood Planning
A commuter walking through flooding in London

In July 2021, thousands of Londoners watched floodwater enter their homes, businesses and communities with little warning, turning an ordinary summer day into an unforgettable one.  Over two separate days, extreme rainfall overwhelmed parts of the capital, causing widespread flash flooding across 24 boroughs. Homes, …

Helping you choose where and when to swim in open water 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Canals, Cleaner Seas, Rivers, Water, Water Monitoring
Person swimming in open water

Open water swimming can be an invigorating experience, but it carries real risks. Before you head out, it's worth knowing a little about how water quality is monitored in England and where that monitoring does and doesn't apply.  In this blog, we explain where you can …

Lowland Peat Water Implementation Grant – applications now open

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Water
Photograph: Pyemoor Dam bidirectional water control structure. Photo credit: Ian Moodie.

We are now receiving applications for the Lowland Peat Water Implementation Grant as announced in New funding boost to protect England's iconic peatlands - GOV.UK Up to £36 million is available to install infrastructure that will allow applicants to better manage water for lowland peat areas. Follow this link for more details and how to …

Making a real difference: a day in the life of a Water Industry Regulation team leader 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Our staff, Water, Water Monitoring
Sampling water for quality check

I didn’t come from a regulatory or environmental background, but I’ve always had a deep-rooted passion for nature.  Growing up, I spent a lot of time gardening with my parents and grandparents, learning the value of patience, care, and respect for the natural world.  As my career progressed, I became increasingly aware of the pressures being placed on our environment and it felt …