Call for government to make swift decision on ban on plastic in wet wipes

The government needs to make an immediate decision on banning plastic in wet wipes in order to help tackle this sewage-based pollution ending up...

New Antarctic study shows levels of ‘forever chemicals’ reaching the remote continent have been...

New evidence from Antarctica shows that toxic ‘fluorinated forever chemicals’ have increased markedly in the remote environment in recent decades and scientists believe CFC-replacements...

Firm partners with National Chemical Emergency Centre to bolster chemical response capability

Environmental risk reduction specialist Adler and Allan has partnered with the National Chemical Emergency Centre (NCEC) to provide training for its employees to deal...

New measures and research needed to tackle ecological impact of pharmaceuticals

A group of international researchers has issued a warning about the increase in pharmaceutical contamination in the environment, with suggestions about how it might...

Tool to help understand the environmental effects of human medicines in Scotland

A new data visualisation tool aims to help researchers better understand the effects medicines have on Scotland’s environment. It has been launched by the...

Fracking vs local democracy: The struggle continues

The government’s lifting of the moratorium on fracking on 22 September was accompanied by assurances that it would only take place where there was...

Sites must fulfil water protection obligations

With public attention on corporate environmental activities, there is particular pressure on industrial companies to limit their impact on the local water environment, says Adam Parmenter, industrial sales manager at WPL.

Discharging a duty

Water industry intransigence and regulatory neglect seem to provide the backdrop to a sewage dumping scandal that has made headlines recently and emboldened citizen scientists and environmental campaigners. Will 2022 be the year water companies are finally forced to get their act together, asks Envirotec.

Laser scans show devastating impact of wet wipes on the Thames

River charity Thames21 has released data showing a mound created by wet wipes, which has grown to the size of two tennis courts and...

Comment: New year brings resolution on pollution

With sector-wide recognition that a step-change is required to deliver the environmental improvements required by all stakeholders, a new year brings fresh opportunities for...

Report pulls back the curtain on chemical pollution in the ocean

A new report attempts to provide a diagnostic of the scale of the ocean pollution challenge facing humanity. The Invisible Wave: Getting to zero chemical...

Defra’s Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan falls short, says conservation group

"We are appalled to see that Defra’s Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan has not taken into account the thousands of responses to the draft...

Washing machine filter captures microplastic without the need for disposables

Bristol based microplastic technology company Matter is launching Gulp, "the first sustainable, long-lasting washing machine microfibre filter" on Kickstarter from 11 October. The firm develops...
Drain jetting

Breaking the CSO cycle

Three steps to increased capacity, without capital expenditure: The use of combined sewer overflows (CSOs) has placed water companies in the firing line of regulators and ratepayers.

Microbes can degrade the toughest PFAS, says new study

Under anaerobic conditions, common microbial communities can break the ultra-strong carbon-fluorine bond Engineers at the University of California (Riverside) are the first to report...

Utility offering funds for charitable organisations to improve their local water environment.

United Utilities has launched a new grant scheme aimed at helping charities to improve their local river catchment for the benefit of the community. The...
firefighting foam

Proposal to ban ‘forever chemicals’ in firefighting foams in the EU

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) says it is bringing forward a proposal for an EU-wide restriction on all per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in...

Not-so-clear and present danger

The unfolding furore over sewage dumping seems to have mobilised political will in a way that observers suggest might be "game changing".

Research seems to confirm the effectiveness of oil dispersants

One of the few tools available to mitigate the damage from marine oil spills are chemical dispersants that break down oil in the water....

Study aims to better understand nitrogen pollution sources and solutions

Study traces the source of nitrogen pollution affecting the world’s second largest barrier reef Agricultural operations are responsible for the vast majority of nitrogen...