Water

Posts about our work to improve the water environment

Climate change and Windermere: what the science tells us 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Science, Water, Water Monitoring
Two Environment Agency staff with equipment in hand walk towards Windermere.

This research is another important contribution to our understanding of Windermere, giving us and our partners greater insight to inform decisions about managing nutrient pollution as the climate changes. The modelling approach can also be applied to other lakes facing similar pressures, helping identify which interventions will work best and where. 

Media coverage on enforcement undertakings

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Uncategorized, Water
Image of a stream with low bridge and fields in the background.

Recent, entirely misleading coverage by Channel 4 claims that the Environment Agency has prioritised the use of enforcement undertakings, rather than criminal prosecutions, against water companies for serious pollution incidents. We completely reject this characterisation. Enforcement undertakings represent one of …

Inspecting water companies: a day in the life of an Environment Agency Water Industry Regulation Officer 

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An Environment Agency officer makes notes on an inspection sheet.

When I stepped into my new role with the Environment Agency’s Water Industry Regulation team, covering Kidderminster and Tewkesbury, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. Six months on, I can confidently say that this has been one of the most rewarding and eye-opening periods of my career so far. 

Bringing a river back to life: The Breamish restoration blueprint

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Archaeology, Environment Agency, Nature, Rivers, Water
The new channel created on the River Breamish, winding through the landscape.

Tucked away in the beautiful Breamish Valley, south of Wooler in Northumberland, one of the UK's most ambitious river restoration projects has recently reached completion - and the results are already remarkable. The River Breamish at Harehope Estate is flowing …

Launching BluePrint: Expanding citizen science across England's waterways 

A river surrounded by lush vegetation.

We’re delighted to announce the launch of a new digital tool that lets you report on the health of your local rivers, lakes and beaches in real-time, directly from your phone.  BluePrint, developed by the Environment Agency in partnership with Hello Lamp Post, builds on the success of WaterWatch - a year-long pilot that gathered public observations at five bathing water sites. Now, the concept is going national.

Evenlode Landscape Recovery Scheme: Celebrating partnership working

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: agriculture, Flood, Water

At the Environment Agency, nature is key to what we do. It’s our job to protect and enhance the environment, enabling nature’s recovery whilst contributing to sustainable growth, with an ambition for climate resilience and healthy air, land and water. We can't do this alone - partnership is at the heart of how we work.  

Windermere Wrapped: Our Year in Review

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

Our teams have been busy monitoring 66 sites across Windermere and its tributaries throughout 2025. Our live monitoring equipment is deployed in seven locations and each deployment gives us countless data points about oxygen levels, temperature and other important factors that tell us how healthy the lake is.