Water & Flooding
Somerset river re-routed back to its original floodplain
The river reset has allowed the Aller on Exmoor in Somerset to find its natural course, and should help reduce flooding by slowing the flow… Read More »Somerset river re-routed back to its original floodplain
‘Unacceptable’: how raw sewage has affected rivers in England and Wales – in maps
More than 384,000 discharges of raw sewage were reported by water companies across England and Wales in 2022, official figures show, in what the Rivers Trust has… Read More »‘Unacceptable’: how raw sewage has affected rivers in England and Wales – in maps
Ministers may have broken law over sewage dumping in England, says watchdog
The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP), which was set up after Brexit to replace the enforcement powers of the European Commission, said an investigation suggested… Read More »Ministers may have broken law over sewage dumping in England, says watchdog
Swimming in the Seine
The city of Paris has the goal of having open water competitions of the Olympic Games take place in the Seine River in 2024. Although… Read More »Swimming in the Seine
River Sherbourne to be returned to historical route
Led by the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, the latest stage of the Sherbourne Valley Project will focus on an area known as Coundon Wedge. It will… Read More »River Sherbourne to be returned to historical route
River Wye: How the Government’s new housing rules could prolong damage to the ‘dying’ waterway
Ministers plan to ditch laws requiring housebuilders to ensure new homes don’t increase the level of nutrient pollution in protected rivers, with more than 2,000… Read More »River Wye: How the Government’s new housing rules could prolong damage to the ‘dying’ waterway
England’s rivers at risk as Michael Gove rips up rules on new housing
Michael Gove is planning to rip up water pollution rules that builders have blamed for exacerbating England’s housing crisis but which environmental groups say are… Read More »England’s rivers at risk as Michael Gove rips up rules on new housing
What is Stage Zero River Restoration?
The term “Stage Zero” refers to the state of a river before human disturbance or land use. This approach to river restoration is a recently… Read More »What is Stage Zero River Restoration?
Unlocking a river: rare silver fish returns to its ancient spawning grounds – in pictures
When four navigational weirs were built on the Severn in the 1840s they blocked the route of shoals of twaite shad as they made their… Read More »Unlocking a river: rare silver fish returns to its ancient spawning grounds – in pictures
‘Rewiggle’ room: Lewes river channel project will create new wetland
The Cockshut is a 1.9-mile long chalk stream that flows from the foot of the South Downs in Kingston, joining the River Ouse at Lewes… Read More »‘Rewiggle’ room: Lewes river channel project will create new wetland
The Guardian view on canals: a national success story under threat
The restoration of much of Britain’s vast canal network has been a notable and uplifting success story. Originally saved in the 1960s from Beeching-style closures by Labour’s… Read More »The Guardian view on canals: a national success story under threat
‘An utter disgrace’: 90% of England’s most precious river habitats blighted by raw sewage and farming pollution
Observer investigation reveals the shocking state of the country’s protected freshwater sites of special scientific interest. More than 90% of freshwater habitats on England’s most… Read More »‘An utter disgrace’: 90% of England’s most precious river habitats blighted by raw sewage and farming pollution
Fury as national health check of England’s waters faces six-year wait
A nationwide annual health check of England’s water bodies which used to take place annually, will now take six years to complete, prompting anger from… Read More »Fury as national health check of England’s waters faces six-year wait
Extreme water stress faced by countries home to quarter of world population
Data from the World Resources Institute suggests these countries are regularly using 80% of their water supplies each year. WRI’s Aqueduct water risk map reveals… Read More »Extreme water stress faced by countries home to quarter of world population