INDEX


BLUEPRINT FOR WATER – GOVERNMENT ‘MUST TRY HARDER’ ON WATER
(Posted 17 December 2007)

A year ago the Blueprint for Water coalition, a campaign of the Wildlife and Countryside link, handed Ministers a 10-step plan for improving the water environment for people and wildlife by 2015. They have now issued the end of year scorecard to assess progress. It shows that welcome progress has been made on the introduction of water meters and on reducing the amount of water wasted in homes. However, on a range of issues – from sewage and water pollution to the restoration of rivers and floodplains –the last 12 months have seen little or no progress.

A Press Release and the One Year Review are available on the Wildlife and Countryside Link website:
(http://www.wcl.org.uk/)

WATER QUALITY RESULTS FOR COASTAL AND INLAND BATHING WATERS IN ENGLAND
(Posted 17 December 2007)

Nearly 98% of bathing waters in England this year met the water quality standards required by law, despite the wettest summer since records began. 405 out of the 414 bathing water sites in England monitored by the Environment Agency met the ‘mandatory’ standard demanded under the Bathing Water Directive, a compliance rate of 97.8%. The much tighter ‘guideline’ standard was met by 72.5% of monitored waters. The slight drop in levels this year is likely to be due to the exceptional rainfall over the summer. Heavy rainfall can temporarily affect bathing water quality as the flow of water washes pollution into coastal waters and rivers through the sewage network, and increases run-off from farmland and urban streets. Water quality affected in this way usually returns to its normal condition after the rain subsides.

Full text of the News Release (15 November 2007), the main water quality results for identified coastal and inland bathing waters in England and a summary of the UK compliance figures, can be found on the Defra website:
(http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2007/071115c.htm)

WALES BATHING WATER 2007 SURVEY RESULTS ANNOUNCED
(Posted 17 December 2007)

The European Commission (EC) Directive requires Member States to identify waters where “bathing is not prohibited and is traditionally practised by a large number of bathers.” Once identified, bathing waters must be sampled regularly during the bathing season to show that they meet at least the mandatory bacteriological standards. Despite unfavourable weather conditions, most Welsh bathing waters have again maintained their high standards, with 86.25% (69) achieving the highest EC standards, the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing, Jane Davidson, announced on 15 November. All but two of the eighty waters monitored met the mandatory bacteria standards set in the current European Bathing Water Directive.

Full text of the news release (15  November 2007) can be found on the Welsh Assembly Government:
(http://new.wales.gov.uk/news/presreleasearchive/1805187/?lang=en)

DRIVING DOWN POLLUTION FROM CAR WASHES
(Posted 17 December 2007)

Along with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Northern Ireland’s Environment and Heritage Service, the Environment Agency for England and Wales has produced new Good Practice Guidance to Pollution Prevention Guidelines Vehicle washing and cleaning (PPG 13) covering all methods of vehicle washing and cleaning, including automatic wash systems, washing by hand and using high pressure or steam cleaners.

For further information and to download the Guidance visit the Agency’s website:
(http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/news/1888385)

THAMES WATER HAS LAUNCHED TWO UNIQUE ‘SKIMMER’ BOATS THAT WILL HELP TO CLEAN UP THE RIVER THAMES.
(Posted 17 December 2007)

The £4million ‘Skimmer’ boats Clearwater I and Clearwater II, have been specially designed for Thames Water to collect litter from the river surface, which is swept into the water from sewage outfalls during heavy rainfall. The vessels, which are the first of their type in the world, mark the first phase of Thames Water’s programme to improve the environmental and aesthetic quality of the River Thames. The vessels are an interim measure to improve the quality of the River Thames. They are part of a £500+ million investment programme to improve the quality of the tidal Thames, which includes a £400 million upgrade programme for London’s major sewage treatment works. In the longer term, the Government has approved plans for the Tideway Tunnel, which will intercept sewage from the existing sewage overflow points.  At the launch on 12 September 2007 Debbie Leach, Chief Executive of the environmental charity Thames21, which works with communities to improve the quality of London’s waterways, said:  ‘The new skimmer boats will be a huge encouragement to the thousands of Londoners who volunteer with us every year to help clear litter from the Thames foreshore. The reduction in sewage-derived litter due to these new boats will enable millions of Londoners, visitors and native wildlife to use and enjoy a cleaner river.’

For more information about the Skimmer vessels and Thames Water’s programme of tideway quality improvements visit the Thames Water website:
(http://www.thameswater.co.uk/UK/region/en_gb/content/Section_Homepages/Multi_Download_001182.jsp?SECT=Multi_Download_001182)

DRAFT MARINE BILL IS JUST ANOTHER CONSULTATION
Marine Conservation Society Press Release
(Posted 17 December 2007)

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) was extremely disappointed that the Queen’s Speech only included a commitment to produce a draft Marine Bill, not a full Marine Bill. Melissa Moore, MCS Senior Policy Officer said “A draft Marine Bill will amount to little more than another consultation, and we have already had two. The Government needs to speed up this process if it is to meet its manifesto commitment for a Marine Act before the next election.”

Full text of the Press Release and further information is available on the MCS website:
(http://www.mcsuk.org/newsevents/press_view/190)

GLOBAL GOALS FOR N8 NORTHERN
WATER GROUP
(Posted 17 December 2007)

A research partnership launched to identify global opportunities for the North of England is developing innovative strategies to advance the sustainable use of water. The N8 Research Centres partnership, funded by the Northern Way, was launched in March by the North’s eight research-intensive universities to provide businesses with access to world-class knowledge to enable them to gain a significant competitive advantage. The N8 Water Group, one of five groups specialising in specific areas of research, is now working on a portfolio of themes to bring about a step-change in water expertise in the North.

For further information visit the Northern Way website:
(http://www.thenorthernway.co.uk/news.asp?id=355)

THE ENVIRONMENT AGENCY LAUNCHES A WFD e-FORUM FOR DEBATE ON OUR WATER ENVIRONMENT
(Posted 30 October 2007)

As part of the Environment Agency’s implementation of the Water Framework Directive this forum has been designed to stimulate open discussion on River Basin Planning. It is currently being run in only three river basin districts, the Dee, South West and South East RBDs. The Agency will review this at the end of the ‘Summary of Significant Water Management Issues’ consultation period.

To view and participate in the e-forum visit the Environment agency website:
(http://wfdforum.environment-agency.gov.uk/mb/wfdconsultationtrial)