Environment Agency

People are being urged to prepare for possible significant inland flooding impacts today and tomorrow due to Storm Ciaran and further heavy rainfall expected to follow, with some significant coastal flooding impacts also possible but not expected today. Wind remains the biggest threat from the storm, but there are various areas at risk of flooding … Read more

Two severe flood warnings have been issued on the River Idle in the East Midlands as Storm Babet brings continued heavy rain. Over 350 flood warnings have been issued across England since Thursday, with the most significant impacts currently in Yorkshire and the East and West Midlands. Two severe flood warnings have been issued on … Read more

Local authorities in the South West have been allocated £6 million in funding to improve the resilience of communities to the effects of coastal erosion and benefit the local economy, Floods Minister Rebecca Pow has announced today (Friday 29 September). The communities of Charmouth and Swanage on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast and Bude in northeast Cornwall … Read more

Environment minister Rebecca Pow and local representatives today (7 September) celebrated the start of construction on a major flood risk management scheme at Beales Corner in Bewdley, Worcestershire, with a sod-cutting event. Construction is helping to support jobs and stimulate the economy by employing British companies, including Arup as lead designer and Jackson Civil Engineering … Read more

Experts are pushing for more investment now to ensure England is in the best possible position ahead of future droughts, the National Drought Group heard this week (13 September). The Group is taking proactive steps now, while water supply is stable, to ensure the preservation of vital water resources – with government, conservation experts and … Read more

Whilst spring rainfall has been a welcome relief for most of the country, experts caution that ongoing action will remain vital for securing our water supply into the future. At this week’s meeting of the National Drought Group (Wednesday 24 May), chaired by Environment Agency Chief Executive John Curtin, the group discussed how the government, … Read more

Plans to maintain water supply resilience have been discussed by a team of national experts, following a decline in reservoir and groundwater levels, as well as river flows in parts of England, as the UK faces the hottest June on record. Chaired by the Environment Agency, the National Drought Group – which includes senior decision … Read more

Thames Water has been fined £3.33m after millions of litres of raw sewage flooded 2 rivers near Gatwick. Judge Christine Laing KC DL told Lewes crown court Thames Water deliberately misled the Environment Agency during its investigation. The untreated effluent killed several thousand fish after equipment failed in late 2017, and the consequence was sewage … Read more

The Environment Agency has today (12 July) released its annual report on the environmental performance of England’s nine water and sewerage companies. The report shows some modest improvements to water company star ratings under the Environmental Performance Assessment (EPA) report in 2022, compared to 2021. Measured against the Environment Agency’s 4-star rating, four companies have … Read more

Anglers will today (Friday 16 June) be welcomed back to rivers across England as the Environment Agency starts the new fishing season. Today marks the end of the close season, which has been in place since 15 March, and sees coarse fishing prohibited in rivers, streams and certain stillwaters across the country to protect vulnerable … Read more