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Water

Posts about our work to improve the water environment

4000 inspections and counting: How we’re driving water industry performance

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Climate change, Environment Agency, Regulated industry, Rivers, Water, Water Monitoring

In 2023 we announced significant changes to the way we regulate so that we can better address the underperforming water industry. At the heart of our plan was a significant increase in both our workforce and the number of inspections …

Kielder a ‘beacon of hope’ in work to save pearl mussel

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Fisheries and biodiversity, Nature, Water
Image shows a wild juvenile freshwater pearl mussel lying on someone’s hand.

The critically endangered freshwater pearl mussel populations have declined drastically worldwide over recent decades. But conservation work at Kielder Salmon Centre in Northumberland is aiming to reverse that trend through a captive breeding programme and by working with partners to create healthier rivers.

Update on Environment Agency investigation

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Environment Agency, Regulated industry, Water
Grasses by a water body

Work continues on our largest ever criminal investigation, to date, into potential breaches of environmental permit conditions by all water and sewerage companies discharging into English waters.   The extent of potential non-compliance involves more than 2,200 wastewater treatment works. To …

Take part in a consultation on guidance used by the water companies when they draft their new drought plans

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Regulated industry, Water
Picture of Haweswater with an additional photo showing drought conditions in 1995

Our changing climate means we could see more frequent and severe weather events, including droughts, in the coming years. We cannot predict when, or how severe, the next drought will be, but we can ensure we learn from previous drought …

Big data, tiny microbes: environmental DNA in action

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Environment Agency, Fisheries and biodiversity, Invasive species, Nature, Rivers, Water
Picture of a white clawed crayfish on a rock.

All living things, from bacteria to blue whales, have DNA in their cells. DNA provides the blueprint for life, directing how organisms grow, reproduce, and live. Since DNA gives a unique genetic code for every species on Earth, we can …

Regulatory EDM 2024 Bathing Season storm overflow data analysed 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Environment Agency, Water

The Environment Agency has analysed Event Duration Monitoring (EDM) data on storm overflows associated with bathing waters across England for 2024.   This regulatory data, bolstered as 100% of storm overflows are now fitted with event duration monitors, is a vital …

Reporting water pollution to get easier with new online service 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Rivers, Sustainability, Water

We’re piloting a new digital service to provide more ways for the public to report environmental problems.  Public reporting of water pollution, odours, flooding or wildlife concerns is an important way that we are alerted to environmental incidents.  Our national …

A day in the life – plant surveying on the River Mimram with Emma, a Senior Environmental Monitoring Officer 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Environment Agency, Nature, Rivers, Water

Every June to September, Environment Agency monitoring officers conduct surveys of aquatic plant life (known as macrophytes) to determine the health of our riverine ecosystems. This year, I was lucky enough to spend the day on the River Mimram with …