Technology and the timely response
Kirk Meikle, from spills countermeasures expert Darcy Group, offers a few thoughts on how new technology is impacting the management and prevention of spill incidents on sites where such a risk exists
The legal implications: quick guide
Site operators should be aware of the legal, as well as practical implications of a spill. Environmental and health and safety law imposes certain duties on site operators which, if not complied with, can result in legal proceedings, fines and reputational damage.
Rainwater is no longer drinkable thanks to PFAS, say researchers
A perspective article by researchers from Stockholm University and ETH Zurich, published in August in Environmental Science & Technology, suggests that environmental contamination by...
An enduring threat to water?
Dr Ian Ross of professional services firm Tetra Tech, and the author of the Emerging Contaminants Handbook, discusses the emergence of PFAS as contaminants of concern in the UK
Sewage spills still a problem as EA report notes utilities’ winding path of improvement
Water and sewerage firms in England are still under-performing, according to the EA’s latest appraisal of their performance – in relation to spills from...
Innovate UK funding for solution to tackle PFAS
London-based chemical technology firm Puraffinity has developed an innovative approach to eliminating PFAS from water supplies, with funding from Innovate UK.
Its solution is a...
“Modern chemistry is rubbish”: Time to wake up to environmental effects, suggests commentary
Modern day chemists need to broaden their horizons and consider the effects of chemistry “beyond the reaction vessel and the fume hood”, according to...
Agency teams move in after twin incidents
Environment officers have attended incidents in Oxfordshire and Surrey after reports of pollution in two separate watercourses.
In Surrey, Environment Agency staff moved on to...
Extolling the virtues of bespoke water quality measurement
Bespoke water quality measurement systems can address highly specific requirements. Water-quality instrumentation manufacturer Pollution and Process Monitoring (PPM) says it has a customer base...
Even treated wastewater affects our rivers, and new study attempts to characterise species shift
New study seems to show that effluents from wastewater treatment plants change the balance of invertebrate communities in Hesse’s waters
Effluents from wastewater treatment plants...
CIP micropollutants research published by UKWIR
Thirteen research reports have just been published, which aim to boost the water sector’s knowledge of microplastics and further the understanding of anti-microbial resistance...
Sewage scandal goes to the High Court
On Wednesday 5 to Thursday 6 July, the High Court will hear a legal challenge that aims to force the Government to toughen up...
Environmental risk reduction firm announces changes to senior leadership team
Environmental risk reduction specialist Adler and Allan has announced changes to its senior leadership team effective 1 March 2021. The firm says the appointments...
Do or dye: Synthetic colours in wastewater pose a threat to food chains worldwide
The ecological and health threats of synthetic dyes entering wastewater systems have been detailed in a new study, which calls for new laws worldwide...
Novel biomaterial for PFCs removal wins €1.4m grant
CustoMem says the bio-adsorbent can selectively capture micropollutants like Perfluorinated Compounds (PFCs) from wastewater
Spotting problems
A report on river quality, published by the UK Environmental Audit Committee (EAC), in January, revealed damning evidence of river pollution in England, and called for improvements in the monitoring of waterways for contamination from sewage outflows and other pollution sources
‘Pillow’ cleans up contaminants within minutes, says supplier
Seddons Plant & Engineers has launched a 'Polymer Pillow' which can remove contaminants such as oil, petrol and diesel from polluted water within minutes....
Robots fill a void
The challenge of tracking underwater oil plumes is starting to be addressed by the use of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). Recent months have seen a number of groups discussing experiments to evaluate this capability
Ocean appointment: Fukushima water discharge facilities under construction
A coastal facility will dilute and release wastewater from the former nuclear plant at Fukushima Daiichi, beginning in Spring 2023. Not all dangerous isotopes will be removed, notably Tritium.
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...
