Cleaner Seas

How science is helping us respond to the Tyne nurdle pollution incident

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Cleaner Seas, Environment Agency, Science, Water, Water Monitoring

By Dr Rob Bradburne, Environment Agency Chief Scientist When incidents happen, good decisions depend on good science. That is certainly true of the ongoing recovery along North East England's coast, where a maritime collision released small pellets of plastic, known …

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 …

What citizen scientists are telling us about bathing waters through AI signposts

A smart phone being pointed at a QR code

Hello Lamp Post-driven QR signage being put up at Combe Martin in Devon Valuable new information about how and when people use popular bathing waters has become available, ten months after AI-powered signage was launched at pilot sites around England.  …

Making a difference: What is it like be an EA Environment Officer?

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Cleaner Seas, Cleaner Seas, Regulated industry, Rivers, Water, Water Monitoring
EA Environment Officer standing on a beach with equipment for testing for black algae.

Christopher Clayton joined the Environment Agency in January 2025 as an Environment Officer with one of the newly formed Water Industry Regulation teams in Lincolnshire. He shares an insight into his role and the reasons why he is so passionate …

What are the 2024 Storm Overflow EDM Annual Returns?

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Cleaner Seas, EDM, Environment Agency, Rivers, storm overflows, Water
Environment Agency logo

Today, we published water company Event Duration Monitoring (EDM) Annual Return data for 2024, which can also be viewed on a map via the Storm Overflow portal, showing the frequency and duration of spills from storm overflows in England. EDM tracks …

What are this year’s bathing water classifications? 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Cleaner Seas, Environment Agency

Today, 26 November, the Environment Agency and Defra published the annual classifications of bathing water sites in England.   The results follow testing of England’s 450 designated sites throughout the May to September bathing season. 92% of bathing waters in England …

World Rivers Day:  What are the biggest causes of river pollution and what’s being done about them? 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: agriculture, Cleaner Seas, Environment Agency, Rivers, Uncategorized, Water
View of flowing river

By Helen Wakeham, Director of Water World Rivers Day, celebrated every year on the fourth Sunday of September, is a global event that highlights the importance of rivers and the urgent need to protect them.    Public concern around pollution in …

Wet winters leading to more macroalgae in Solent, but nutrient reduction offers hope for the future

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Cleaner Seas, Climate change, Fisheries and biodiversity, Nature

If you spend time on or around the water of the Solent’s harbours, you will likely have noticed high levels of bright green macroalgae, on the shore or in the water. Wet winters are causing an increase in green macroalgae …