By Andy Brown, Water Regulation Manager North West Lake Windermere, Cumbria As we head into the festive season, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on what's been an incredibly busy year for us at the Environment Agency, working alongside our partners to protect Windermere. It's easy to think of this stunning lake as just a beautiful Christmas card view – and it certainly is that – but there's so much more happening beneath the surface and around the shoreline. **Keeping watch on water quality** Our teams have been busy monitoring 66 sites across Windermere and its tributaries throughout 2025. Our live monitoring equipment is deployed in seven locations and each deployment gives us countless data points about oxygen levels, temperature and other important factors that tell us how healthy the lake is. Some of our monitoring sites have been collecting data since the mid-1970s –that's nearly 50 Christmases of information – helping us understand how the lake is changing and what we need to do to protect it. Our invertebrate surveys have been particularly encouraging. These tiny creatures are like nature's own quality checkers, and the incredible diversity we've recorded tells us that Windermere's tributaries are alive and thriving. **Keeping you informed and safe** This year, we launched a new dedicated webpage about blue-green algae to help you stay safe whilst enjoying the lake. Whether you're planning a Boxing Day dip or a summer swim, you can find the information you need to enjoy Windermere responsibly. We also carefully managed water abstraction during what turned out to be the warmest summer on record for the UK. Windermere gives us vital water supplies, and we work hard to balance community needs with protecting the lake. Lake Windermere, Cumbria **Our regulatory role** As the environmental regulator, we've carried out numerous site inspections across the catchment – checking in on United Utilities sites, private permit holders and farms. We take our role seriously because these checks can help prevent problems before they start and ensure everyone's doing their part to keep the lake healthy. Compliance Assessment Reports (CAR) forms can now be viewed online enabling the public to see how sites are performing (Defra Data Services Platform or Public Registers Online ) **Protecting precious species** Windermere is home to some truly special wildlife. Our Arctic charr species recovery project is a real comeback story – these rare Ice Age survivors are getting the helping hand they need to thrive again. We've also been protecting salmon through consultations on Net Limitation Orders and byelaws. And right now, it's redd counting season, where we count the nests that salmon and trout create for their eggs. As we celebrate Christmas, we're also celebrating new life and the next generation of fish in Windermere's waters. **Working together  ** We are working with others on an innovative and exciting feasibility study tasked with delivering options that result in only rainwater entering the lake, with sewage and highways runoff being removed. This study will present options in summer 2026. Finally, we support the Love Windermere Partnership that comprises nine organisations united in their goal to improve water quality across the catchment. As we close 2025 this ambition and our work will not stop. Thank you to everyone who's played a part in protecting Windermere this year. Here's to a healthy, thriving lake for generations to come.

**By Dr Robert Bradburne, Environment Agency Chief Scientist** An ARC-Boat - a remote control boat used by the Environment Agency's hydrometry team Friday 12 December marked a significant moment for all of us who care about England’s rivers and streams. Today, we’re releasing our first set of analysis-ready water data under Defra’s Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (NCEA) programme and I’m immensely proud of the work of hundreds of committed Environment Agency Staff that has got us to this point. We know England’s rivers are hugely valuable to us, but face considerable pressures, from pollution to climate change, and that’s precisely why building this evidence base matters. Why? Because this isn’t just data we’re collecting. It’s the foundation for something potentially transformative: a truly representative national picture of river and stream health, built on a statistically balanced design.  This first data release is a major step towards the NCEA producing a complete baseline of our natural assets by 2029, which will underpin decisions that strengthen resilience for nature, people, and the economy. We are at the start of the biggest investment from water companies in improving the water system that we have seen for many years, with £104bn being put into measures that could improve water quality over the next five years.  The Government has recently announced £500m will be spent with farmers on Landscape Recovery Schemes across the country, sparking considerable land use or management change across a number of catchments.  We’re planting trees faster now than we have for 20 years, and of course there will be more houses, and new industrial clusters in many places across the country. **What makes NCEA different?** The Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (NCEA) is Defra’s largest single research and development programme. Its ambition is clear: that the national baseline of our natural assets, can ensure decisions and investments across government and society that impact our environment can be grounded in the best possible evidence. The water component, delivered by the Environment Agency, is designed for national-scale insight. Using unbiased, spatially balanced sampling across rivers and small streams, it helps us understand England’s water environment as a whole - not just individual sites or local pressures. That matters because it gives us a clearer, fairer picture of how our rivers and streams are doing.  It enables us to see how the investments and changes we are making interact with drivers such as changing weather patterns and how this ultimately shapes the health and value of our waters. **How does this fit with existing monitoring?** It’s important to be clear: NCEA evidence does not replace regulatory monitoring such as that needed under The Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017 which remains the overarching statutory framework for assessing and managing much of the water environment, focusing on a cycle of river basin planning, programmes of measures, with monitoring targeted at assessing pressures and “at-risk” water bodies. The NCEA is a separately funded research programme which complements this by fulfilling a different need. The NCEA tells us how the environment is doing at the national scale. For example, how the health and value of rivers and lakes and groundwaters is changing in response to broad scale changing pressures and management activities. Assessments done for the Water Environment (WFD) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017, support regulatory and planning actions at local and regional levels, and enable us to understand how those plans, actions and investments are supporting and improving the chemical and biological status of our waterbodies. Both are vital and, together with the variety of other data available, they give us a truly unique and powerful set of tools with which to understand our water environment. Environment Agency staff collecting samples **What  we’re publishing now** This release includes analysis-ready datasets from the River Surveillance Network (RSN) and the Small Streams Network (SSN). It's an interim snapshot, a small subset of the planned survey, so it’s not the full picture yet. But it’s a major step forward, and it sets the stage for what’s to come. **Why this matters** Opening up NCEA data at this early stage is about transparency and openness, and I hope it will encourage discussion and innovation. It reflects the work of colleagues across field teams, labs, and analysis -combining traditional expertise with newer methods to raise the bar in environmental science. It embodies our vision for science in the Environment Agency: evidence that is excellent, trusted, and applied to real-world decisions. This is science in action - making a difference for the places and people we serve. **Using the data in the right way** We know people will want to compare NCEA data with other datasets. I’m really pleased for people to explore the data, but a friendly caution: methodological differences can look like real-world change if you don’t account for them. That’s why we’re incorporating plain-English caveats, guidance on appropriate use, and reminders that these datasets are for national-scale inference - not site-level compliance decisions.  As we collect more data over the coming years you will be able to do more and more with it, and I am really looking forwards to hearing about new insights that are generated using it. **What comes next** This is just the start. Over the coming years, we’ll release more data across freshwater, groundwater, estuarine, and coastal networks - all part of building England’s national baseline. By pairing open data with clear contextual information, we’ll help everyone - from policymakers and practitioners to researchers and communities - to make better, more confident choices for England’s environment. So, I encourage you all - explore the data, share your insights, and join us in shaping a resilient future for England’s rivers and streams. * Small Streams Network Analysis Ready Data * River Surveillance Network Analysis Ready Data To hear more from the NCEA programme on their other newly released datasets, read their latest blog.

Bio-beads provide a surface for billions of microscopic bacteria and are used in the treatment process to break down sewage. On the week of 3 November a vast number of small black plastic pellets started to wash up on the beach at Camber Sands in East Sussex. It immediately, and naturally, drew considerable concern from the public and local community. We quickly started an investigation to understand where this plastic pollution came from, what it was, and who caused it. A lot of progress has been made and the pellets were swiftly identified as ‘bio-beads’. Southern Water have publicly apologised for a failure at their Eastbourne Sewage Treatment works, and the local authority, Rother District Council, has driven forward efforts to clean up the beach along with many committed volunteers. Sadly, despite huge efforts from volunteers, some of the beads are still in the sea and may continue to wash up along local beaches. However, a clear up plan is in place and resources identified to respond as that happens. We are leading the investigation into what happened and why, and as part of that will consider what enforcement action is necessary. As a live investigation we cannot comment on any element of this investigation. We will also continue to support partners with advice and guidance on the clean-up operation. **What are these small (approx. 5mm) plastic pellets, known as ‘bio-beads’, and what are they used for?  ** They are called ‘bio-beads’ because they support the biological breakdown of sewage effluent when used in sewage treatment works, but they are not biologically active themselves.  Essentially, they just provide a surface for billions of microscopic bacteria to call home. In the wastewater treatment process, once solid matter has been removed, liquid sewage effluent is passed into aerated tanks containing millions of these beads. The bacteria living on them then get to work devouring the remaining organic matter in the liquid. If the sewage effluent went directly into rivers or seas, without that treatment stage, naturally occurring bacteria would do the same. But as many bacteria require oxygen to break down the organic matter they would strip the oxygen from the local environment (as opposed to within the treatment works), potentially harming anything that needs oxygen to survive, like fish. **What are bio-beads made of and are they harmful?** Generally, plastic bio-beads will be made from a form of polyethylene, like High Density Polyethylene (HDPE). The sort of plastic you might find around the house or even in some food and drink packaging. They may be made from new or recycled plastic. Typically for bio-beads, which might be used for many years, the composition of the plastic used will be slow to degrade. Like all plastics, chemical additives are used in the manufacture of polyethylene which help give it the characteristics required for its intended use, such as strength, flexibility or durability. Over time some of these chemicals may eventually be released as the plastic degrades. If recycled plastic is used it may also contain other contaminants, such as metallic elements, from the original plastic. Whether these chemicals have a harmful impact in the environment will depend on the nature of the chemical, the concentration of that chemical and how long anything is exposed to it. Chemical levels released from such plastics are usually extremely low, but the risks increase where the chemicals are persistent, not readily diluted and exposure to wildlife is prolonged. The Environment Agency's chief concern is that bio-beads be managed properly and don't escape into the environment. There is a more immediate physical risk to wildlife from plastics in the environment. Bio-beads are small so could be easily swallowed by wildlife if they were mistaken for food. If not subsequently rejected or released, then they could build up and cause a physical hazard in the stomach or gut resulting in the deterioration or death of the animal. As they float, bio-beads will also disperse with any water currents and so are likely to spread over a considerable area. Sadly, any release of bio-beads to the water environment adds to the already huge burden of plastic pollution in the water environment today. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has estimated that every year, worldwide, 19-23 million tonnes of plastic waste leak into aquatic ecosystems, polluting lakes, rivers and seas. **Why are bio-beads used and are there alternatives?** Plastic bio-beads are an effective and lightweight option to provide a large surface area for bacteria to break down organic material in sewage effluent. Bio-beads are not used in all sewage treatment works but may be useful where there are physical constrictions on a site. Their use is decreasing however as water companies invest in new technologies to treat sewage. There are alternative materials for beads which have been used, such as glass or clay and some treatment plants use other processes to treat their effluent, such as fixed filters. **What is our role in the regulation and use of bio-beads?** Our primary concern for the use of bio-beads in industry is ensuring that those beads are contained within any works, managed appropriately, and not allowed to escape to the environment.  We have been increasingly concerned about the instances of bio-beads appearing on beaches having been lost from industrial processes by various routes. This is unacceptable and industry must take responsibility to prevent this happening. If beads are allowed to escape into the environment from water treatment processes for example, water companies should immediately report this to us as a pollution incident, and we will not hesitate to take enforcement action where appropriate. If you suspect pollution from bio-beads or any other pollutant we encourage you to call our free 24-hour hotline 0800 807060.

BWRX-300 reactor design, a 300 megaWatt electrical boiling water reactor We’ve just announced that GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy is the first company in the world to successfully complete our two step generic design assessment (GDA) process. Its BWRX-300 reactor design, a 300 megaWatt electrical (MWe) boiling water reactor, has been issued with a Step 2 statement. What does this mean and what have we said about this reactor design. Our lead nuclear assessor for this reactor Paula Atkin explains. **What’s a two step generic design assessment?** We created GDA back in 2007 after government asked us and the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) to look at how to de-risk new nuclear reactor projects. We introduced an option of stopping or pausing after the initial two steps (Fundamental Assessment) back in 2019 following discussions with government about how to make our process more enabling for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and under-developed designs. Before this innovation all GDAs followed the full process including detailed assessment, taking up to five years. Our team of assessors has completed this two-step review in just under two years. Step 1 was completed last December and since then the project team has been examining the fundamentals of the BWRX-300 design. Our focus in Step 2 is on fundamentals related to environmental protection and waste management such as how the design avoids creating radioactive waste. Our colleagues in ONR focus on the safety and security fundamentals. Internal illustration of BWRX-300 design **What have we learned about this reactor design?** Our headline conclusion statement is that there are no ‘fundamental’ environmental protection shortfalls in this design. We’ve not identified anything that is ‘unacceptable’. At this stage the design is likely to be consistent with the application of BAT (best available techniques) for minimising the generation and impact of radioactive waste disposals on people and the environment. This is subject to the completion of the further work identified in our regulatory observation (that we have concerns about waste segregation that will need to be resolved) and completing a detailed assessment of the design. Currently the company proposes not to change the design to enable sorting and segregation of waste ion exchange resins and liquid waste arisings. If it can’t demonstrate that its proposals on waste segregation are BAT, then design changes may be required. The radiation dose to the public and wildlife is likely to be well below the dose limit during normal operations. Further work is required to specify expected discharges, including looking in more detail at the “source term” that discharges are based on. The source term is essentially the level of radioactivity that is expected to arise in the reactor’s cooling circuit. We consider that it is overly conservative and so discharges are overestimated. We are also recommending the company looks at sampling and monitoring provisions as soon as possible, to ensure space is available to fit the equipment. We studied the company’s estimates for low and higher activity solid wastes for operation and decommissioning and found that there is nothing novel and all are likely to be disposable. And we also agree with NWS’ conclusion that the fuel is likely to be able to be disposed of in a future GDF. We recommend a continued focus on decommissioning as the design work progresses to ensure that there is sufficient information for any future permit application. **What’s next for BWRX-300 design?** The company didn’t ask for a more detailed Step 3 GDA so a full detailed assessment will be required if a developer wants to take it forward at a site in England and Wales. The detailed assessment could take place as part of pre-application work for permitting or by restarting GDA. We’d assess the detailed design for how it ensures environmental protection and would also assess design changes that have been made since we began our assessments. The reactor is still being designed – it’s not finished. There are currently no plans to deploy here but GE Vernova told us that the reactor is going to be used in projects in Canada, the US, Poland and the Czech Republic. **Sharing design assessment information with regulators around the world** The value of GDA is that it enables us to identify regulatory concerns and design problems early – when the design is still “on paper” – so that we can ask the designer to address them and change the design. This avoids costly and time-consuming changes down the line at the construction site. New nuclear power stations are an important part of the government’s policy for us to have secure low carbon energy supplies and to have economic growth in the UK. Most recently the Prime Minister and the US President signed a new UK-US agreement called the Atlantic Partnership for Advanced Nuclear Energy that requires closer working between UK and US regulators to improve the coordination and efficiency of our assessments. We’re already talking to regulators around the world about our GDA work and the new Atlantic partnership will encourage this further. **Getting involved** You can read about all our GDA work  New nuclear power stations: assessing reactor designs - GOV.UK If a developer takes forward this design in the future you’ll be able to read information and share your views through site specific consultations and public engagement work we’ll organise at that time.

In our previous blog, we looked back at the Buncefield incident, our role in the response, and how it shaped the way we regulate high-risk sites. For this second piece, we want to share first-hand experiences from some of our colleagues who were directly involved. Their memories highlight the scale of the incident and how it continues to influence our work today. **Colin Chiverton, Area Environment Manager, Thames Area** > _“_ On 5 December 2005, I was the first person from the Environment Agency to attend Gold Command at Hertfordshire Police Headquarters for the multi-agency response. I then led the Agency’s joint complex and major investigation, with the Health and Safety Executive, into the cause and environmental consequence of the incident. I continued to lead our investigation until, in July 2010, we attended St Albans Crown Court for the sentencing of the five guilty defendants. > > The outcome of the investigation was a landmark fine for environmental pollution and consequences to the high-hazard industry. I was proud of the whole team response and result – but what a five years of our lives.” **Rob Argent, Operations Team** > “Even after 20 years I have vivid memories of the incident and the emergency response. Every day on my way to the Hatfield EA offices I used to drive along a small lane called Three Cherry Tree Lane that runs right alongside the fuel terminal. I lived in Hemel Hempstead at the time of the major accident and by chance I was on incident standby duty. I attended some of the initial emergency services command meetings. > > My father also worked for a company located only a few hundred metres from the fuel terminal. After Buncefield, his company was forced to relocate and my old shortcut was closed for many years. I now work in COMAH (Control of Major Accident Hazards) regulation in the South West, inspecting high-hazard sites similar to Buncefield and making sure operators apply the lessons learnt from this major accident.” > **Michael Nicholas, Senior Advisor for COMAH and Climate Change Adaptation** > > “My memories of Buncefield stack up like a pile of postcards, a series of images of catastrophe but also hope. From the day of the incident, supporting the Environment Agency response as an officer at our Area Incident Room, through weeks and months of on-site investigation, the preparation of court files and the subsequent work to ensure lessons have been learned forever. > > I am proud of my role in ensuring learning from Buncefield has led to significant improvements in industrial safety, protecting people and the environment from major accidents. Some specific memories remain etched in my mind: > > • The menacing black cloud hanging above my garden, 45 miles away from Buncefield. > • The hundreds of fluorescent-clad emergency service personnel packed into the foyer of the Hemel Hempstead Holiday Inn, all working with a common aim – to bring the site under control while protecting people and the environment. > • The first day investigating on site: twisted metal, shattered glass, collapsed ceilings, and a black oily lake over what had once been a tree-lined country lane. > • Weeks later, returning to see the exhausted, pale faces of oil company staff – often forgotten as Buncefield victims. > • Months later, collecting a formal groundwater sample that looked like dark stout but smelled strongly of oil. > > Beyond those moments, I remember the determined faces of regulators and industry experts working together to revise countless codes, standards and good practice documents – all to ensure an incident like Buncefield should never happen again.” **A reflection on Buncefield** The memories shared by our colleagues show how deeply the Buncefield incident affected those involved. Their stories underline why the Environment Agency continues to work so closely with partners and industry to minimise the risk of another major industrial accident. **A message from our Chief Regulator Director, Jo Nettleton** > “The Buncefield explosion 20 years ago was a pivotal moment for industrial safety and environmental protection. In its aftermath, we helped shape new fuel storage standards and worked closely with the industry and other regulators across England, Scotland and Wales to embed the lessons learned, which were published in 2011. > > This progress demonstrates the power of collaborative regulation that is evidence and intelligence based to target the highest controls to the highest risks and apply it proportionately and consistently. Even 20 years later, remediation work at Buncefield is on-going. It stands as a reminder of what’s at stake and of what can be achieved when regulation drives continuous improvement and safeguards both people and the environment. > > As we look to the years ahead, emerging risks from ageing infrastructure, climate change, and new technologies are presenting new challenges. We are meeting those challenges by strengthening our COMAH regulatory capacity to work even more closely with operators to enhance oversight, improve risk management, and continue to ensure robust safety controls are in place”. If you would like to hear more updates and insights from our teams on topics like this, please follow our Chief Regulator LinkedIn account.

In the early hours of Sunday 11 December 2005, a dense fog formed around the Buncefield fuel depot on the edge of Hemel Hempstead. A large petrol storage tank was overfilling, and vapours spread across and beyond the site. Then, what has been described as one of the largest explosions and fires in peacetime Europe took place. The event was reported around the world and was heard as far away as the Netherlands. Fires burned for five days, destroying much of the depot, damaging nearby businesses and properties, and injuring more than 40 people. Thankfully, no lives were lost, but many were affected. With estimated costs exceeding £1 billion, Buncefield remains the UK's most costly industrial accident. In the days that followed, large volumes of fuel, firewater, firefighting foam and contaminated rainwater escaped the site and entered the ground, polluting the underlying groundwater. **Our role in the response** The Environment Agency played a central role in responding to the incident and overseeing the clean-up and long-term remediation. As part of the COMAH (Control of Major Accident Hazards) Competent Authority, we worked closely with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to investigate what happened and assess the environmental impact. Our teams gathered evidence from the site, analysed samples from the surrounding area, and reviewed how the operating companies and their contractors had managed their activities. The investigation uncovered a range of technical and management failings. Five companies were found to have committed offences, resulting in fines and costs of £9.5 million, including £1.3 million in fines for pollution offences. This was a record at the time for a single incident in the UK. Read the full details here: Buncefield: Why did it happen? **Turning learning into action** Our investigation and enforcement work were only part of our response. In the years that followed, we worked with industry and other regulators to apply the lessons from Buncefield. We collaborated with HSE, trade associations, professional institutions and standards bodies to publish Safety and Environmental Standards for Fuel Storage Sites. This report set out the learning from the incident and helped raise expectations across the fuel storage sector. Since then, we have continued to ensure these lessons are part of good industry practice. This work has led to an improvement in safety. In the past 13 years, there has not been a single accident from a COMAH site with serious off-site environmental impacts. **Continuing work at Buncefield** Our work at Buncefield continues. We have worked with the site operators to make sure the standards recommended after the incident, known as the Process Safety Leadership Group (PSLG) guidance, have been implemented. A long-term plan for soil and groundwater remediation was put in place, including pump and treat systems and activated carbon beds to remove pollutants such as fuel and firefighting foam. Contaminated soils and damaged structures were also removed and disposed of. The operator continues to monitor the groundwater to help us understand and manage any long-term impacts. The cost of the clean-up and remediation work has run into the tens of millions. There have been known challenges in managing Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination, as large amounts of firefighting foam were used at the time, which helped contain the fire. As our understanding of PFAS evolves, we continue to monitor and manage this issue in line with the latest known best practices and the Environment Agency and HSE are currently working on a proposal to restrict the use of PFAS in firefighting foams under UK REACH legislation. In the next blog, we will share personal stories from Environment Agency staff who were part of the response and recovery. They reflect on the scale of the challenge and what it meant to be involved in one of the UK’s largest industrial incident responses. Our Chief Regulator Director, Jo Nettleton, will also share her perspective on Buncefield’s lasting influence on environmental regulation and how it continues to shape our work today.

Following the 2025 DEFRA bathing water classifications, we are sharing an update on storm overflow performance associated with bathing waters across England for the 2025 season (15 May to 30 September). This year has seen an overall improvement: both the frequency and duration of storm overflow events has reduced. Porthtowan beach, Cornwall **Storm Overflow Performance** The data for 2025 shows: · **Average spills per overflow:** 5.9, down from 7.7 in 2024. · **Average spill duration:** 2.8 hours, compared to 3.9 hours last year – a reduction of 1 hour and 6 minutes. · **Total number of spills:** 6,780, a significant decrease from 8,704 in 2024. **Bathing Water Connections** The number of storm overflows associated with designated bathing waters has increased slightly. Storm overflows affecting bathing waters are reviewed periodically and can lead to flux in year-to-year numbers: · **2025:** 1,140 overflows · **2024:** 1,135 overflows **Seasonal Context** Overall, summer rainfall was below average, with August recording just 62% of the UK’s typical rainfall. The bathing water season for 2025 was a drier than average year. Storm overflows stop wastewater backing up when rainfall and/or snowmelt overwhelms sewers. As such we would expect them to operate less when the weather is dry. **How we use EDM data** We put permits in place for storm overflow operation to ensure they are only used when they should be – during times of rainfall and snowmelt. Event Duration Monitor (EDM) data is a vital regulatory tool. As of the end of 2023, 100% of storm overflows were fitted with an EDM, and since the 1st of January 2025, water companies have been required to publish this data in near real time. This gives us full oversight of the whole overflow network, closing a major transparency gap in the water industry. We use EDM data to plan what investigation and improvement work from water companies needs to take place, and to work with water companies and local partners to act where needed. Bathing water quality has improved significantly since the 1990s following decades of regulation, investment and partnership work but we know there is more to do to tackle all sources of pollution and support continued progress across sites. From our early work pushing companies to install event duration monitors, to carrying out the biggest number of inspections yet, we have consistently focused on measures that will deliver real improvements to water quality through reducing overflow use. Using our Event Duration monitor analysis, we have worked with partners to secure £10.2bn from water companies to improve storm overflows in England as part of the Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP) announced earlier this year. You can view investment in your local area using our new WINEP interactive maps. We are also updating water company permits to include spill frequency thresholds in line with the targets in the Government’s Storm Overflow Discharge Reduction Plan and, since January this year, all dry day spills – no matter how small – are now classified as pollution incidents. In 2024, through the renewal of Environmental Permitting Regulations (EPR) water quality charges, we secured funding for 400 new roles focusing solely on the water industry, allowing us to more than triple our number of inspections and raise water company performance. The Water (Special Measures) Act (WSMA), further strengthens our regulatory approach through stronger powers, new duties and better data. This will allow us to have an even better understanding of overflow use and their impact on bathing waters and take stronger enforcement action against environmental lawbreakers.

This week we published the 2025 Bathing Water Classifications here: 87% of bathing waters rated ‘Excellent’ or ‘Good’ as new reforms come into law - GOV.UK. From the results it's evident that England’s coastal bathing waters tell a strong story of what long-term regulation, sustained investment and effective partnership working can achieve. Decades of targeted partnership action by the Environment Agency, water companies, local authorities and communities have transformed many of our coastal bathing waters, leading to consistently high standards of water quality. Today, most designated coastal sites are classified as _Good_ or _Excellent (87% in the recently released 2025 classifications)_ – a success built over time through targeted investigations, focused improvements and clear regulation. As bathing water designation has expanded to reflect the places where people now swim, paddle and enjoy the water recreationally, more inland sites are being formally recognised. This is a positive step: designation brings routine monitoring, clearer public information and a stronger foundation for improving water quality where action is needed. However, it is important to recognise that inland waters - particularly rivers - face different and more complex challenges than those on the coast. Improvements will take time because the starting conditions are very different. In fact, in the same 2025 Classification results 12 of the 14 river bathing waters were rated ‘poor’. **Why rivers are more challenging** Rivers sit much closer to the sources of contamination that can affect water quality – and there are usually multiple sources. Agricultural run-off, urban drainage, wildlife, misconnected plumbing and treated and untreated wastewater can all contribute. Unlike the sea, rivers usually lack the long travel distances where dilution and natural processes act to reduce bacteria. By contrast, coastal waters benefit from: • Natural disinfection from saltwater • Wave action and tides that disperse pollution quickly • Greater dilution The River Tone at Taunton **Designation is the first step, not thefinal outcome** Once a river becomes a designated bathing water, we begin detailed monitoring to understand exactly what is affecting water quality and when. Prior to designation a river bathing water will not have been managed for faecal indicator organisms (FIO’s) before. FIO’s are bacterial indicators of faecal contamination that have been linked to people becoming ill. They can come from a variety of sources including sewage, agricultural livestock or wildlife. This evidence is essential before the right measures can be identified. Identifying pollution sources in a river catchment is complex and can take time – often more than one year’s worth of monitoring. Where improvements are needed – which can range from land management to upgrading wastewater infrastructure – these actions often require significant planning, investment and collaboration and can take several years to implement. **Progress Will Build Over Time** The success seen at coastal bathing waters shows what is possible. Those improvements did not happen overnight; they were the result of many years of consistent partnership working. Through co-ordinated effort from water companies, industry, the agricultural sector, communities and individuals along with monitoring, regulation and investment. Rivers will follow the exact same journey. As more sites become designated, we gain better insight into how people use them and what actions will make the biggest difference. Over time, as measures are put in place to address river bathing water quality, we hope to see catchments respond, but we must acknowledge the inherent complexity of river systems present challenges. England’s rivers are valued places for recreation and nature, and designation marks the beginning of a long-term commitment to improve them.

Following our initial blog about the appalling large-scale illegal dumping of waste near Kidlington, we want to update you on the significant progress being made to protect the community and environment. We’ve continued to work with partner agencies, including Cherwell District Council, Oxfordshire County Council and local emergency services, to take action to mitigate the risks to the local environment and community. This week, a 39-year-old man was arrested thanks to cooperation between Environment Agency enforcement officers from the Major Investigation team and the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit. Our National Environmental Crime Unit, staffed by highly skilled waste crime investigators, continues to lead the investigation. Residents of the area will rightly be concerned about the potential for contamination of the surrounding land and waterways – which is why works have been ongoing at the location over recent weeks to tackle those challenges, as well as a comprehensive programme of monitoring to understand what materials might pose a risk. **Here is a summary that builds on the actions to date carried out by the Environment Agency and our partners** **Protecting the community** We have secured the site with Heras fencing to prevent entry to this active crime scene and employed 24-hour security on site. In addition, colleagues at Oxfordshire County Council have closed all footpaths surrounding the affected area. We remind the public that this is a crime scene, covered by an active restriction order – it is illegal to enter the site. Visiting hampers our investigation and causes further harm to the environment as waste underfoot gets compacted into the ground or dispersed further. The waste pile is around ten metres from the River Cherwell at its closest point. However, recognising the potential for heavy rainfall or rising floodwaters to cause waste to enter the river, we have put in place large sandbags to further reduce the risk of pollution entering the watercourse. Our specialist teams remain on the ground at the site, conducting rigorous assessments of risks to the River Cherwell, monitoring environmental impact, and taking immediate action where needed. We will continue this intensive monitoring and enforcement work until the site is secured, and any environmental damage is addressed. **Managing fire risk** Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service has been on site to assess any potential fire risk using thermal imaging technology. Firefighters checked the waste pile for any hot spots that could lead to a fire breaking out. They also visited the site to see how they would enter quickly if they needed to respond in an emergency. Keeping firefighters and the local community safe is central to our planning as we continue to monitor the risk of this illegal waste site. **Waste clearance** Work continues with partners to look at options for removal and disposal of the waste. Unlike the offenders, who showed no regard for the environment or impacts on the local community, the Environment Agency and partners will ensure that this is done in a safe and managed way to prevent further damage and minimise risk to the environment. While we cannot give a timeline for this work, we ask the public to remain patient whilst the necessary steps are put in place, in the knowledge that all partners are working together to manage the current risks. **Investigation** Following the arrest of an individual on Tuesday, the partners continue to work closely to progress the investigation into this incident. Any information from the public can be reported to the Environment Agency via its 24-hour incident hotline at 0800 807060 or anonymously via CrimeStoppers. **Factual corrections** **Why are  you not calling this fly tipping?** It is clear from the waste on site that is has been through a mechanical treatment process and is not waste dumped by opportunists. The way in which it has been dumped suggests it is organised criminality and will be investigated as such by our National Environmental Crime Unit. **Why did you only start investigating when the media got involved?** This is not true. We started our investigation in July before news of the site reached the media in October. **Why can’t you fine those you believe to be involved immediately?** Civil sanctions are generally not appropriate where the offending is deliberate. Due to the nature of how the waste has been deposited it appears to have been a deliberate act and we are therefore pursuing a criminal investigation. Investigations potentially involving a network of offenders can be complex and take time. We have specialist resources assigned to the investigation, both from the EA and partner organisations. We must follow all lines of enquiry to present a strong case to court, who make decisions based on the evidence, to get the best outcome for the taxpayer. **Why didn’t you act sooner?** We were on site within days of the site being reported and immediately confirmed it as a high-risk illegal waste site and went on to take urgent action. While we act immediately, we also rely on information from the public to alert us to illegal waste sites and the quicker we are made aware the quicker we can act. Read more on the blog about what we're doing to combat waste crime.

The Environment Agency published the 2025 Bathing Water Classifications earlier today, Tuesday 25 November. The results provide the latest national assessment of the quality of England’s 449 designated bathing waters out of a total of 451 as two were closed due to access issues. The results show continued improvement overall, alongside some persistent local challenges. Full results can be found via the following link: 2025 Statistics on English coastal and inland bathing waters: A summary of compliance with the Bathing Water (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2025 - GOV.UK **Strong National Performance** The 2025 results confirmed that bathing water quality across England remains high: · 417 waters (92.9%) achieved an Excellent, Good, or Sufficient classification, up from 91.8% in 2024. · 297 waters (66.1%) were rated Excellent—the highest number since the current standards were introduced in 2015. · 32 waters (7.1%) were classed as Poor, down from 37 last year. These improvements underline the long-term progress achieved through regulation, investment, and increasingly coordinated catchment management. **What Influenced the 2025 Results** The classifications reflect both seasonal weather and local pollution pressures. Much of the summer (May to August) was dry, supporting better water quality. Each bathing water also faces a unique mix of pressures—from storm overflows and agricultural runoff to urban drainage, misconnections, wildlife and, in some areas, groundwater contamination—making year-on-year changes difficult to attribute to any single type of pollution. **Newly Designated Waters Face Steeper Challenges** Many of the poorer results came from recently designated sites that were not previously managed to bathing water standards. Of the 34 waters designated since 2021, 19 were classified as Poor this year, including 17 of the 27 designated in 2024. This was expected and reflects the early stage of investigation and improvement plans in these catchments. **Improvements and Deteriorations** Six bathing waters improved from Poor in 2024 to Sufficient or Good in 2025, including: · Deal Castle · Heacham · St Annes North · Coniston Water–Boating Centre · Bridlington South Beach · Porthluney Some benefited from specific partnership working, such as resolving misconnections, which are sewage pipes wrongly connected to surface water drains, or reducing agricultural runoff; others likely improved due to natural changes. Two sites deteriorated from Sufficient to Poor—Haverigg, which sat close to the threshold last year, and Stoke Gabriel, designated only in 2024 and therefore assessed on a smaller dataset. **Sites With Persistent Problems** Under recently amended regulations, sites with five consecutive Poor classifications no longer face automatic de-designation. Instead, a Ministerial decision is taken on whether to grant an extension. Three sites reached this milestone in 2025: · Tynemouth Cullercoats · River Wharfe at Ilkley · Weston Main Each faces complex, long-standing pressures such as groundwater contamination, agricultural runoff, sewage inputs, and wildlife impacts. Several other sites may reach the same position if they remain Poor in 2026. **Pollution Sources and Key Pressures** The results highlighted five main categories of pollution affecting Poor-rated waters: · Sewage – including storm overflows, continuous discharges and private systems. · Agriculture – particularly livestock runoff and poor soil management. · Urban diffuse pollution – including highway runoff, misconnections, and sewer exfiltration. · Wildlife – seabirds and waterfowl in some coastal and inland locations. · Other sources – such as groundwater pathways, private drainage, or natural factors like sediment. **Looking Ahead** The results demonstrate significant progress, with more sites than ever meeting high standards. However, they also show that improving the most challenging locations will require sustained investment, catchment-scale collaboration and continued reforms to the way bathing waters are managed. The 2025 classifications reinforce the importance of protecting the rivers, lakes and coastal waters that people rely on for recreation, health and wellbeing—and highlight that while improvements are real, the work is far from complete.

Waste crime is completely unacceptable. We are working tirelessly with compliant businesses, operators and partners to protect our environment and communities from waste crime. We will always take decisive action to investigate and work with police to bring perpetrators to justice. In Kidlington, Oxfordshire, we share the public's disgust at the large-scale dumping of illegal waste. This blog sets out what we've done, what we're doing now, and how you can help us bring those responsible to justice. **Our immediate response** In response to evidence from the public, our officers and partner organisations attended the site on 2 July. At this point we confirmed it as a high-risk illegal waste site requiring urgent action. When the risk of further dumping emerged, we secured a court order to close the site to prevent more waste from being illegally tipped. Following that order, we closed access to the site and there has been no further dumping on the site. Unfortunately, the majority of the waste was tipped before we became aware. Once we were notified, we acted swiftly. **Our ongoing work** We're working closely with our partners to tackle this incident head-on. Multi-agency coordination is essential in situations like this and the Environment Agency is overseeing the joint response. Today (19 November) we convened Cherwell District Council, Thames Valley Police and National Highways to ensure a unified approach to protecting the local environment and addressing community concerns. This partnership ensures every agency brings its full capabilities to bear on the problem. Let's be absolutely clear: we have the resources, expertise and determination to deal with this situation effectively. Any suggestion otherwise is completely inaccurate and misleading. The Environment Agency is the nation's environmental regulator with decades of experience handling complex environmental incidents. Our specialist teams remain on the ground at the site, conducting rigorous assessments of risks to the River Cherwell, monitoring environmental impact, and taking immediate action where needed. We will continue this intensive monitoring and enforcement work until the site is secured, and any environmental damage is addressed. **Criminal investigation  ** The investigation is being led by our National Environmental Crime Unit, which is staffed by highly skilled waste crime investigators. Presently, we’re actively pursuing lines of enquiry. We cannot comment further, or we risk prejudicing the outcome. We have a strong track record of successfully bearing down on criminals which includes stopping activity at 743 illegal waste sites in the past year. We are confident we’ll track down those responsible for the waste dumped at Kidlington. We cannot commit to a timeline for when the waste will be cleared but as a matter of principle we believe that those who pollute - rather than taxpayers - should cover the costs of clean up. However, we are reviewing options for site clearance. This is not a quick process as, unlike the criminals that dumped it there, we have to ensure this vast amount of waste is handled correctly, moved to the right facilities and is done so without causing further damage to the environment. **How you can help** Information from the public is critical to holding waste criminals to account. If you have any information about this site or suspect illegal waste activity anywhere, please call our 24-hour incident hotline on 0800 807060. You can also report information to call crime stoppers via their website Independent UK charity taking crime information anonymously | Crimestoppers. We’re aware of people wanting to see the site for themselves. It’s a live crime scene which is covered by a restriction order. It’s not legal or safe to be there. Visiting not only hampers our investigation but also causes further harm to the environment as waste underfoot gets compacted into the ground or dispersed further. * * * **Factual corrections** There have been some false reports in the media and online about some of our response. We’d like to set the record straight on this: **All EA did was put a sign on the gate. It has been too slow to find the culprits -** Not true. When the site was reported to the Environment Agency, we launched a criminal investigation to find those responsible, closed the site to prevent further dumping and continue to monitor the area for environmental harm. **Dumping continued after we closed the site on 23 October -** Not true. We have no evidence of more waste dumped at the site since September. **EA is too busy to deal with this among all its other work –** Not true**.**  We have the resources, expertise and determination to deal with this situation effectively. We have stopped activity at 743 illegal waste sites in the past year. * * * **Our wider work against waste crime** Waste crime undermines legitimate businesses and costs England's economy around £1 billion a year. We're determined to turn the tide. In 2024/5, the Environment Agency successfully stopped activity at 743 illegal waste sites, of which 143 were high risk. Our enforcement officers also prevented nearly 34,000 tonnes of waste from being illegally exported. **Working in partnership** Since 2020, we've led the Joint Unit for Waste Crime – a multi-agency taskforce bringing together the Environment Agency, police forces, the National Crime Agency, HMRC, the National Fire Chiefs Council and devolved bodies to tackle serious and organised criminality in the waste sector. By the end of September 2025, the work of the Joint Unit for Waste Crime led to 186 arrests. **Following the money** We've also established an Economic Crime Unit within our National Environmental Crime Unit to target the money and assets of waste criminals. In 2024/25, we supported 21 ongoing money laundering investigations, secured 5 account freezing orders and 1 cash detention (£17.9k forfeited, £2.9 million frozen), and finalised 13 confiscation orders totalling £1.55 million. We will continue working tirelessly with compliant businesses, operators and partners to protect our environment and communities from waste crime.

EA Chair Alan Lovell and staff from the Canal and River Trust at Allington Lock As the summer boating season has drawn to a close, it’s a moment to reflect on the challenges and achievements of the past summer. Drought conditions have tested our waterways and infrastructure - but they’ve also revealed resilience, innovation, and a shared commitment to protecting England’s canals and rivers. The Environment Agency (EA) Chair, Alan Lovell, recently hosted a visit at Allington Lock on the River Medway in Kent for several senior representatives from the Canal and River Trust, including Chair David Orr. The group discussed key topics such as water management, navigation services, and future collaboration between both organisations. As part of this, they shared lessons learnt and best practice across cross-cutting areas of work - including recent experiences managing low river flows and drought conditions. **Reflecting on a record-breaking summer** 2025 brought England its hottest summer on record. Extended dry spells and minimal rainfall pushed many rivers and canals to historically low levels. These conditions forced difficult decisions: temporary closures, lock restrictions, and reduced access. While disruptive, these measures were essential to safeguard water supplies, protect habitats, and maintain resilience. We’ve seen how low flows can strain infrastructure, hinder navigation, and increase environmental risks. In some areas, water levels dropped below safe thresholds for boating, prompting urgent action from navigation authorities and regulators. **The EA’s role: Balancing navigation and environmental protection** As both a regulator and navigation authority, the EA has to wear multiple hats. We oversee water abstraction and reservoir operations, issue stop notices when levels fall too low, prioritising long-term water security. Our navigation responsibilities span over 1,000 km of inland waterways, including the non-tidal River Thames, River Great Ouse, and Medway Navigation. It’s our job to keep them open and safe for a variety of uses - especially boating. This includes maintaining locks and weirs, managing water levels, issuing notifications for closures or restrictions, and removing obstructions. During drought, we monitor water levels, issue guidance to boaters, and work with partners on water-saving measures. **Learning from the Canal & River Trust’s response** The Canal & River Trust (the Trust), which looks after 2,000 miles of canals and navigable rivers across England and Wales, has played a vital role in managing the wider canal network. With more than 35,000 boats on these waters, canals are busier now than at the height of the Industrial Revolution. The Trust’s teams and volunteers work around the clock to manage water levels but a record-breaking dry start to spring meant restrictions were brought in early, around Easter, to conserve the water supply in several canals. This meant reducing lock operating hours to extend water supplies and navigation for as long as possible. In some instances, locks were temporarily closed to boats, helping save water to keep boats afloat, protect wildlife, and safeguard canal infrastructure. For every restriction or closure, the Trust considered factors such as reservoir and river supply, boat traffic demand, evaporation, transpiration, and environmental flow needs. Volunteer lock keepers helped manage boat traffic to ensure water was used sparingly. Their conversations with boaters shared knowledge about what was happening, why it mattered, and how to help. The Trust’s use of digital channels, including its Notices alert system, Boaters’ Update newsletter, website, and social media, has helped boaters stay informed and involved. The dry spring and hot summer took their toll, with, at its peak, around 400 miles of the canal network affected by navigation restrictions or closures. The Trust provided support to people living on their boats and worked with boat hire companies when planning the closures so they could offer alternative routes where possible. However, closures weren't all negative: where canals were temporarily closed, the Trust brought forward repairs to minimise disruption later in the year. Autumn rainfall has begun replenishing canal pounds and reservoirs, allowing the Trust to ease restrictions and reopen routes. Rochdale Canal, Sutton and Combs Reservoir. Credit: Canal & River Trust **Collaboration in action: EA and  the Trust** The EA and the Trust worked closely to manage water levels, prioritise navigation routes, and communicate with users. Joint planning, real-time updates, and shared water-saving initiatives helped reduce disruption and build resilience. Together, we’ve shown that collaboration isn’t just beneficial, it’s essential. By pooling expertise and resources, we’ve been able to make fair, transparent decisions based on the best available data. **Spotlight on the Broads** While many inland waterways faced significant drought-related challenges this summer, the Broads presented a different picture. The Norfolk and Suffolk Broads - Britain’s largest protected wetland and third-largest inland waterway - are governed largely by tidal processes rather than river flows. This means navigable depth is typically buffered during dry periods as the sea backfills the system. However, drought can still have ecological consequences. Reduced freshwater inputs can lead to increased salinity intrusion, pushing saltwater further upstream than usual. In extreme cases, this can result in fish deaths. A combination of events in early October led to hundreds of freshwater fish dying near the River Thurne including Hickling Broad due to a combination of pressures. In response, the EA deployed staff to carry out a fish rescue from Womack Staithe to Hickling Broad, successfully relocating over 100,000 fish (over two separate events). These ecological pressures highlight the importance of tailored approaches to drought resilience. **Looking ahead** Drought has tested our waterways. But it has also revealed the strength of our partnerships, the dedication of our communities, and the importance of adaptive management. As conditions begin to improve, we’re reflecting on what worked, what we’ve learned, and how we can build greater resilience for the future. The EA remains committed to supporting navigation and protecting our shared water resources. We’ll continue working with the Trust, the Broads Authority, and local communities to ensure our rivers and canals remain safe, accessible, and sustainable - now and in the years to come. Find the latest information on drought here:  weekly dry weather summaries, water situation reports, and the Water hub.

Fire Service extinguishing a waste fire The Environment Agency places great value on partnership working to enhance and strengthen our regulatory role. We actively collaborate with other agencies where our objectives align, protecting people, the environment, and legitimate businesses. Information sharing between partners is key to identifying, preventing, and disrupting environmental crime. One of our key partners is the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), a strategic member of the Joint Unit for Waste Crime (JUWC). Together, we work to ensure a consistent and coordinated approach to tackling waste crime across the UK. The JUWC supports the development and training of NFCC Waste Fire Tactical Advisors, enhancing their ability to identify and respond to potential waste crime activity. Through this collaboration, the JUWC and NFCC share best practice, lessons learned, and identify opportunities for prevention, early intervention, and detection across agencies. This collaboration is delivering tangible results. Below are examples of how the Environment Agency and Fire and Rescue Services are working together, locally and nationally to prevent and tackle illegal waste burning. ## Local collaboration identifies and targets high-risk waste fire locations _Stuart Hoyle, Environment Agency Waste Crime Engagement Officer explains:_ In Lincolnshire, I work closely with the Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service Arson Taskforce Manager. We both sit on the county Environmental Crime Partnership and jointly proposed the establishment of a multi-agency project team focused on deliberate waste fires making this a county-wide priority for the year. Together, we co-lead the project, working alongside local authorities, the police, and the National Farmers Union (NFU) County Advisor. Our initial focus was on reviewing how waste fires were recorded across partner agencies. By categorising incidents by cause, we were able to identify fires that were deliberately ignited by waste operators seeking to avoid environmental regulation and disposal costs,  with clear disregard for the environment and public health. Through multi-agency data analysis, we identified two areas within the county with a higher concentration of waste fire incidents. This insight enabled us to target our prevention and enforcement activity more effectively. Enhanced information sharing also allows us to identify where partner agencies may have attended incidents unknown to others. Effective joint working ensures that each agency can deploy its most appropriate prevention or enforcement powers, creating a more coordinated and impactful response. Working with non-enforcement partners is equally important. The involvement of the NFU facilitates two-way information exchange with stakeholders directly affected by, and influential in addressing these issues. This partnership approach strengthens our collective capability to prevent and reduce illegal waste activity. Waste burning can release harmful gases, grit and dust into the environment ## UK Fire and Rescue Service on lookout for waste criminals _Peter Stark, Environment Agency Enforcement Team Leader explains:_ Organised waste criminals are known to illegally burn waste to avoid legitimate disposal routes and associated costs. To conceal their activity, they may contact their local Fire and Rescue Service, reporting the incident as a ‘controlled burn’ in an attempt to prevent detection. I have collaborated with the NFCC to address issues related to waste fires, controlled burns, and waste crime incidents. I have participated in recommending amendments to operational and fire control guidance provided to all UK Fire and Rescue Services. This guidance is intended to help Fire Control personnel identify calls that could suggest potential waste crime activity and assist both fire control and operational staff in recognising suspicious patterns, facilitating timely referrals to relevant agencies. Drawing on my 26 years of frontline operational experience with the Environment Agency, I have provided technical input across several areas of NFCC guidance, including notification protocols to the Environment Agency, management of surface water and groundwater, foul and surface drainage systems, waste legislation, and fire prevention plans. Throughout my career, collaboration between the Environment Agency and Fire and Rescue Services has been essential. We have worked together not only on waste-related incidents but also during tidal and fluvial flooding, emergency planning exercises, Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) events, and major incidents such as the Buncefield oil terminal fire in 2005. These partnerships demonstrate our shared commitment to protecting people, businesses and the environment. I am proud to work alongside the NFCC, UK Fire and Rescue Services, and other professional partners who share our goal of protecting communities and the environment through effective joint working. Together, we continue to strengthen our collective response to waste crime and environmental harm.

We’ve just published our annual report about radioactivity in food and the environment. Our radiological monitoring and assessment specialists **Becca Williams** and **Rob Dean** share the headlines from our monitoring and assessment work and talk about how artificial radioactivity gets into the environment. **Headlines** Radioactivity in food and the environment is safe. Overall, between 2023 and 2024 there were no major changes to the radioactivity measured in food and the environment. And the public’s exposure to radiation from sites permitted by the Environment Agency was well below legal limits. **Our radiological monitoring team** The Environment Agency’s radiological monitoring team work remotely in different parts of England. We manage several different monitoring programmes that measure radioactivity in the environment and support the production of the annual Radioactivity in Food and the Environment (RIFE) report. We also provide radiological assessment advice to ensure protection of the environment and the public from impacts of radioactive discharges. **Independent monitoring programmes** We run several different radioactivity monitoring programmes that are independent of the nuclear industry in England and Wales. We monitor many different samples including air, rainwater and sources of drinking water. We also monitor grass and seaweed and our partner organisation monitors different food types such as milk. The results of all our programmes are published annually in the RIFE report. The programmes: * provide a check on operator monitoring of the environment * provide reassurance that the radiological impact of discharges and other transfers of radioactivity into the environment are acceptable * establish background levels of radioactivity in the environment * supply us with a long-term measure of the state of the environment and information on changes over time * enable the impacts on wildlife to be independently estimated We use specialist laboratories to carry out the analysis and measurements and again this year’s RIFE report contains over 10,000 pieces of analysis and measurements. **How do artificial sources of radioactivity get into the environment?** It’s worth remembering that radioactivity is all around us. It occurs naturally in the Earth’s crust and in most of our homes, in food we eat, water we drink and the air we breathe. We are also exposed to artificial sources of radioactivity, such as those used in medical settings, nuclear power stations and from nuclear weapons testing fallout and historic nuclear incidents. It’s a legal requirement to make sure the amount of artificial radioactivity that people are exposed to from discharges is kept within a safe limit. The requirements for regulating public exposure from the disposal of radioactive waste in England and Wales are set out in the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 (as amended) which transposes the requirements of the Basic Safety Standard Directive. If any organisation in England, such as a nuclear power station operator, university research laboratory or hospital, wants to use radioactive substances they must have a permit from the Environment Agency. These environmental permits contain strict conditions (rules) that they must always follow. We also set specific limits on what they are allowed to release when carrying out certain activities. Before we issue a permit we assess how discharges of radioactivity will affect humans, plants and animals on land and in rivers and marine environments. The methodology and system used by our scientists to assess radiation doses to people and wildlife is published on gov.uk. Our nuclear regulators carry out checks to make sure that operators do not release radioactivity above the limits set in their permit conditions. But it’s worth emphasising, as the diagram below shows, only a small percentage of all radioactivity in the environment is artificial. Most is naturally occurring. **How we assess exposure to radiation** Our monitoring programmes help us to understand the levels of radioactivity in food and the environment. We use habit surveys to investigate the behaviour and diet of people living near nuclear sites to assess their exposure to radiation. Experts conduct interviews with members of the public, focussing on identifying those who are most likely to be exposed to radiation. We use this data alongside environmental monitoring data to estimate doses of radiation the public is exposed to. These estimated doses are reported annually in our RIFE report. Habit surveys were published this year for Sellafield, Hartlepool and Hinkley Point. **Learn more** We publish information from our monitoring programmes every autumn. You can read this year’s short summary and detailed report on GOV.UK  or look back at previous year’s reports on the National Archives. We’ll be sharing the results with communities around nuclear sites and environmental groups through our reports to site stakeholder groups and other local engagements. If you have any questions comment below or email nuclear@environment-agency.gov.uk

_The Environment Agency (EA) is one of the Navigation Authorities. During a flood, the Environment Agency encourages people to protect themselves and plan. Here, Environment Agency staff member Jon Naylor reflects on his experience of owning a boat, and what to do in a flood._ **Riding the tide: My experience owning a boat on the River Thames during a flood** Owning a boat on the River Thames has always been a source of joy and tranquillity for me. However, when the threat of a flood becomes imminent, it brings some challenges. Here’s how I prepare and protect my boat during this stressful time. Jon's boat moored on the River Thames. **The Calm Before the Storm** Living near the River Thames, I’ve always been aware of the potential for flooding. When the weather forecast starts to predict heavy rains and rising water levels, I know it is time to put my flood plan into action. Here’s what I do: 1. **Staying Informed** : I signed up for flood warnings from the Environment Agency. This allows me to stay updated on the latest developments and make timely decisions. I also found the live river levels by searching “Check River Conditions and Closures” on Gov.UK website. A useful tool that makes me feel more in control of the situation. 2. **Creating a Flood Plan** : I have a detailed flood plan in place. This included a checklist of actions to take, such as taking extra precautions to secure the boat properly, ensuring all equipment is in good working order, and removing valuable items. **Securing the Boat** As the river levels continued to rise the situation became more urgent, I took the following steps to secure my boat: 1. **Strong Moorings** : I used durable ropes and chains to secure my boat. I made sure the boat was tied to strong trees and not just mooring pegs - also moorings need to be attached to strong points on the boat itself as well as ashore. This was crucial in preventing it from drifting away or getting damaged by debris. It is important that lines are not too tight to allow vertical movement (rise and fall) when river levels change, but this can allow the boat to move slightly in the water – if possible run long lines out as short lines will not allow enough vertical movement. 2. **Good Condition Mooring Lines:** It is critical to ensure that mooring lines are in good condition, free from fraying and knots. Polypropylene lines can degrade in UV light and become brittle and powdery. 3. **Removing Valuables** : I take all valuable items off the boat and stored them in a safe place. This included important documents, electronics, and personal belongings. **Protecting the Boat** To further protect my boat from potential damage, I took additional precautions: 1. **Sealing Openings** : I use waterproof covers and sealants to protect hatches and windows. This helps prevent water from entering the boat. 2. **Using extra Fenders** : I place fenders around the boat to protect it from collisions with floating debris and the land. 3. **Using extra posts** : I erect several extra posts to stop the boat from floating onto the land when it floods, where it can become stuck or capsize when waters levels reduce. **During the Flood** When the floodwaters arrive, I monitor the situation closely: 1. **Regular Checks** : I check on my boat regularly, ensuring it remains secure and undamaged. Safety is my top priority, so I avoid taking any unnecessary risks. 2. **Staying Safe** : I prioritise my safety and the safety of others. I avoid accessing the boat when conditions are too dangerous. **After the Flood** Once the floodwaters recede, I take the following steps to assess and repair any damage: 1. **Inspecting for Damage** : I thoroughly inspect my boat for any signs of damage. Most of the time, my preparations payoff, and there is no damage. 2. **Cleaning and Drying** : I clean and dry the boat to prevent mould and corrosion. This is an essential step in maintaining the boat’s condition. 3. **Reviewing and Improving** : I review my flood plan and make notes on what worked well and what could be improved. For example, I've learned important lessons from my experiences. In the future, I'll make sure someone can look after my boat if I'm not around. This is especially important during long periods of flooding or high river levels. **Reflections** Owning a boat on the River Thames during a flood can be a daunting experience, but with proper preparation and a clear plan, it’s possible to protect my boat and minimise damage. My experience has reinforced the importance of staying informed, having a plan, and taking proactive steps to secure and protect my boat. I hope my story helps other boat owners prepare for and navigate similar challenges.

As an Area Flood Risk Manager and National Flood Duty Manger responding to flood incidents over the last 20 years, I've seen first-hand the devastating impacts that flooding has on our communities. I’ve spoken to many families whose homes have flooded. For one family after months of waiting for their home to be repaired, whenever it rains, their children are afraid, not wanting to go to school, worried they’re going to flood again. Flood impacts continue long after that rain has stopped, and the waters recede. The UK is experiencing more frequent and intense extreme weather due to climate change, and we are warning communities not to be complacent about the risk of flooding even though drought is still being experienced in some parts of the country. Officers carrying out maintenance on the Ipswich Tidal Barrier. **6.3 million home and business in areas at risk** Flooding affects more people than you might think. Around 6.3 million homes and businesses in England are in areas at risk of flooding from rivers, the sea or surface water. Yet many people remain unaware of their personal risk or unprepared for what might happen. Climate change is making extreme weather more frequent and intense across the UK. Last winter alone, the Environment Agency teams issued more than 3,000 flood alerts, 1,600 flood warnings, and three severe flood warnings. The Environment Agency is ready to respond should flooding happen, providing a 24/7 response, with 600 people on call at any one time around the country. **Don’t be complacent** We have today (13 October) launched our annual campaign to encourage you to take practical steps to keep you and your loved one’s safe, and to avoid the worst devastation flooding can cause to homes, businesses and neighbourhoods. Even after this summer's dry conditions, communities must not become complacent about flood risk – drought and flood risk can exist in the same county at the same time. Despite being a dry summer, communities should not be complacent when it comes to flooding. **Simple steps can make a big difference (and they really can!)** Taking action doesn't have to be complicated or expensive: * **Check your flood risk** - Search "prepare for flooding" on GOV.UK to find specific information about the risk to your home, business and neighbourhood. This free service gives you the knowledge you need to make informed decisions about your safety and preparedness. * **Sign up for flood warnings** - These warnings can give you crucial extra time to keep your family safe and property protected when flooding threatens your area. * **Make a flood plan** - Knowing what to do before a flood happens can make all the difference. A simple flood plan covers everything from storing important documents in waterproof locations to knowing how to turn off your electricity and water supply. * **Create a flood kit** – Pack essentials like a torch, battery-powered radio, first aid supplies, warm clothes and copies of important documents. * **Consider installing property flood resilience measures** - Products like non-return valves on waste pipes or flood-resistant door barriers don't just protect your belongings – they help you get back to normal life more quickly after flooding occurs. The Flood Re Build Back Better initiative even enables householders to install property flood resilience measures up to £10,000 when repairing their properties after a flood. **Staying Safe** While we can't prevent all flooding, we can significantly reduce its impact through proper preparation. The most effective flood protection combines professional flood defences with individual preparedness and community awareness. Remember, flooding can happen anywhere and at any time and the impacts live long after the rain stops. Whether you live near a river, by the coast, or in an urban area where surface water flooding can happen quickly understanding your risk and having a plan keeps you one step ahead. Find out more about Flood Action Week: http://www.gov.uk/government/news/public-urged-to-get-flood-ready-as-environment-agency-launches-flood-action-week

East Anglia is one of several areas across England experiencing prolonged dry weather or drought. Nationally, the Environment Agency is coordinating efforts through the National Drought Group to protect water supplies and the environment during this challenging period. Whilst the start of September has seen 40-60mm of welcome rain, it provides limited environmental benefits due to the exceptionally dry soils from the summer. Further rainfall, usually associated with autumn and winter, is required before our rivers, groundwater and ecology can recover. **What's happening to the wildlife in our rivers** River levels across East Anglia are currently at some of the lowest levels recorded since summer 1976. Public water supplies are secure, but the combination of below average rainfall and warmer temperatures has created challenging conditions for the wildlife. When water levels drop and temperatures rise, there's less oxygen dissolved in rivers and streams. This creates stressful conditions for fish and other aquatic life, and in severe cases can lead to fish rescues. **How we're responding** We've increased our environmental monitoring across East Anglia so we’ve been able to spot problems early and take action. Our teams have been measuring dissolved oxygen levels and river flows at over 100 additional sites throughout the region. Our fisheries teams have been: * Visiting sites to test water quality and provide aeration equipment where needed. * Advising fishery managers on making their waters more resilient to dry conditions. * Operating a 24-hour callout service to respond to reports of fish in distress. * Collecting samples to analyse algal blooms, which can occur in hot, dry weather. * Using innovative techniques like drones to look for areas that may be drying up and pools where fish could be trapped. **Local success stories** Mechanical aerators in operation and an Environment Agency officer putting hydrogen peroxide into the water to improve dissolved oxygen levels. Throughout the summer, where low levels of dissolved oxygen have been detected or reported, our staff have quickly intervened. Mechanical and chemical aeration equipment have raised oxygen levels back to a healthy condition saving thousands of fish. Environment Agency drone footage of an orange weed boat on the River Gipping in Ipswich. The boat was being used like a bulldozer to push the weed away. In Ipswich, we detected very low oxygen levels in the River Gipping. This was caused by a build-up of an invasive species call Azolla filiculoides (water fern). This non-native plant can quickly spread and block waterways, starving the water of oxygen. In response, our staff cleared substantial amounts of the invasive vegetation from the river. This work was supported by Anglian Water who temporarily reduced abstraction, increasing river flow. Environment Agency fisheries officers moving fish from a council owned pond with low water levels, to another lake with better water levels. Throughout summer 2025, we have rescued fish from several local authority owned fishing ponds where water levels had dropped very low. Fish were carefully moved to enclosed lakes with better water levels. These lakes were not used for fishing so provided a safe home where fish could recover. You can read more about what the EA has been doing nationally to protect aquatic life during drought conditions: From Fish to Rare Crayfish: England’s Drought Wildlife Rescue Operations – Creating a better place **What’s our long-term response?** It can take a long time for rainfall to fully replenish groundwaters, reservoirs and rivers. The environment can take even longer to recover. Therefore, we'll continue monitoring the situation and act where necessary to protect the environment and wildlife. The Environment Agency continues to work nationally to monitor and respond to drought conditions. Through the National Drought Group, we’re coordinating efforts with water companies, farmers, environmental organisations and local authorities to safeguard water supplies and protect wildlife. You can read more about the national response here. **How can the public help?** Everyone can continue to play a part in managing the impact of dry weather: * If you see fish in distress or other environmental impacts, please call our 24-hour incident hotline on 0800 807060. * We encourage everyone to use water responsibly. You can find water-saving advice and guidance at waterwise.org.uk * If you need advice about moving fish, Permission to move live fish to or from a fishery - GOV.UK Find the latest information here: weekly dry weather summaries, water situation reports, and the Water hub.

The Environment Agency welcomes the publication of the New Towns Taskforce report and the government's initial response. With economic growth as the government's number one mission, we are uniquely positioned to contribute to the next generation of New Towns through our statutory role to protect and enhance the environment while supporting sustainable development. Drone view of modern housing development in the UK **Building environmentally resilient communities** Consideration and investment in environmental capacity and enhancement is essential for healthy, economically thriving and climate-resilient communities of the future. The New Towns programme presents an exciting opportunity to help shape plans for new development at scale, delivering sustainable growth that is resilient to climate change. Our involvement in new towns is part of the broader engagement we undertake on housing and development matters across the country. We respond to over 10,000 development consultations each year, and engaging on New Town proposals enables us to provide input early on these very large, emerging sites. We have rapidly reformed our planning service, now providing advice consistently within the 21-day deadline, and will continue to use our technical expertise to achieve the best outcomes for both the environment and economic growth. **Our commitment to sustainable development** We want to ensure new homes are built with adequate flood risk protection, reliable supplies of drinking water and sewerage services, whilst remediation brings previously developed land back into productive use. Crucially, we want to put green space, nature recovery and enhancement at the heart of these new communities. To support this vision, we have already been working closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and Homes England teams supporting the Taskforce. We have been providing environmental evidence for exploratory locations and sharing our insights on the key ingredients for new town design, location and the essential infrastructure investment needed. **Supporting the Strategic Environmental Assessment process** We are keen to continue supporting the next stage of the  work on new towns over the coming months, working closely with the New Towns Unit ahead of selecting new town locations in the spring. This includes providing evidence on environmental opportunities and constraints for the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) process, helping to ensure optimum locations are identified. The SEA is required by the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004. It provides a high level of protection to the environment by ensuring environmental and sustainability considerations are built into the preparation of relevant plans and programmes that set a framework for development consent. The SEA process will assess the likely significant environmental effects of the proposed New Towns programme, alongside reasonable alternatives. It ensures these environmental effects are known, publicised, consulted on, integrated into decisions, and then monitored. **Bringing expertise and experience** Our expertise, including our experience of working with local authorities, development corporations and developers, will help ensure these new communities achieve the Taskforce's ambition that "New towns should be designed and delivered to embrace environmental principles, with buildings and neighbourhoods that are low carbon, climate resilient and which help to protect, restore and enhance biodiversity." We are excited to be part of this next stage and the opportunities it brings to ensure the protection and enhancement of the environment alongside supporting growth, affordable homes and job creation. By working together, we can create communities that are not only economically successful but also environmentally sustainable for generations to come. **Further reading** New Towns Taskforce: Report to government - GOV.UK

As autumn begins, many farmers are still feeling the effects of prolonged dry weather and drought despite recent rainfall. The Environment Agency remains committed to supporting the farming community - not only in managing drought impacts, but also in preparing for winter challenges such as flooding, slurry storage and reservoir refilling. Credit: Environment Agency ## How has drought affected farmers? This year’s dry conditions led to early harvests, reduced yields, and poorer quality in some crops. Livestock farmers have had to dip into winter feed supplies early, with some facing difficult decisions around feed costs and herd management. The Addington Fund, including Forage Aid, has launched an emergency appeal to support those most affected. The NFU continue to hear from farmers concerned about pasture quality, rising feed costs and calf development. There have been some upsides - dry spring conditions supported strong pollination and early harvests in some crop types - but the overall picture remains challenging. ## What should farmers do to prepare for winter? With the irrigation season ending and soils beginning to re-wet, now is the time to take stock and prepare. ### How to manage reservoir refilling after drought * Check your abstraction licence for start dates and conditions. * Be aware of Hands-Off Flow (HOF) thresholds - if river levels are below these, you’ll receive a stop notice and must wait for a resumption notice before abstracting. * Use the Hydrology Data Explorer and monthly Water Situation Reports to monitor local river flows. ### Essential reservoir maintenance tasks * Inspect liners for cracks or wear that could cause leaks during refill. * Check for sinkholes or subsidence in exposed beds. * Clear sediment to improve capacity and water quality. * Assess vegetation cover and erosion risk, especially on spillways and dam crests. ### Winter slurry storage preparation * Inspect and prepare slurry infrastructure to prevent environmental harm during wetter months. * Address any cracks, test pumps and pipelines, and ensure storage capacity is adequate. * For further advice see Slurry storage: sort it in the summer, be winter ready – Creating a better place . ### Flood risk management for farms * Stay informed about local flood risk and mitigation support through the Environment Agency’s flood risk management teams. * Sign up to get flood warnings if your home or business is at risk of flooding: Sign up for flood warnings - GOV.UK. * Find out more about how to protect your home, belongings and loved ones, visit What to do before or during a flood - GOV.UK. * Review our Regulatory Position Statement (RPS) on abstracting floodwater outside of licence conditions during flood events. ### How can farmers build long-term climate resilience? Even with the wetter weather, now is a good time to consider how your farm can become more resilient to future droughts and climate variability: * Review cropping plans and varieties using tools like D-Risk to assess local drought and abstraction risks. * Plan long-term investments in reservoirs or backup storage for livestock. * Review your abstraction licence to ensure it meets your future needs. * Explore future funding opportunities to support productivity and resilience. * Join or form a Water Abstractor Group to coordinate water use. * Collaborate with neighbours to develop Local Resource Options. * Consider trading water with other licence holders to improve access to water supplies. Further guidance can be found on gov.uk. By making these changes, you can make yourselves and your farm more resilient to dry weather and the longer-term effects of climate change. Farming Advice Newsletters  provide useful abstraction reminders and the Farming Advisory Service also publish our irrigation prospects in the spring. ### Hemlock poisoning Hemlock poisoning has been reported in livestock in Wales this summer. Dry weather and exposed ditches increase the risk of animals foraging toxic plants like Hemlock. **** Farmers should look out for: * purple blotches on stems * hairless stems and white lacy flowers * a nasty, mousy smell. Hemlock is deadly to animals and humans when ingested. Roots and seeds are especially toxic. Farmers should stay alert. If removing Hemlock, wear protective gear and dispose of plants safely. Read more about Hemlock here. ## Where can farmers get support and advice? We’re working closely with partners across flood risk management and agricultural support to ensure farmers have the guidance they need. For help, questions, or feedback, please contact your local Environment Agency office or explore our online resources, including the Water Hub. * * *

**Anyone who moves waste as part of their business operations must register with the relevant regulator.** This includes you if: * you transport waste (a carrier) * you buy, sell or dispose of waste (a dealer) * you arrange for someone else to buy, sell or dispose of waste (a broker) **In England you can register directly with the Environment Agency online as a waste carrier, broker or dealer:** **Register or renew as a waste carrier, broker or dealer - GOV.UK** Registration is free if you only transport waste you produce yourself (unless it is construction and demolition waste). Otherwise, registration costs £184 initially and £125 on renewal. **Please be aware that any websites that advertise to complete this on your behalf are not affiliated with us and may charge an additional fee for their service.** ## **We are happy to help** Registering is quick and easy. If you need any assistance when registering, we are happy to help. You can contact nccc-carrierbroker@environment-agency.gov.uk or 03708 506 506 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm). When registering, you must provide us with the correct and complete information. Providing incorrect information, whether by mistake or on purpose, means we can remove you from the register. If alternative or incomplete contact information is provided (e.g., if third parties provide their contact information rather than yours), you may not receive important updates and information relating to your registration, including correspondence from us if we decide to remove you from the register. Not only could you then miss the opportunity to provide us with the correct information and have your registration restored, but you could become an unregistered carrier, broker or dealer and not be aware. It is an offence to transport controlled waste or act as a broker of or dealer in controlled waste without being registered, and such an offence could result in us taking enforcement action. **You can ensure that all your details are provided correctly by completing the registration yourself at:** **Register or renew as a waste carrier, broker or dealer - GOV.UK** If you hold a current registration and need to inform us of any change affecting information relating to your registration, you must inform us within 28 days of that change. You can do so by contacting nccc-carrierbroker@environment-agency.gov.uk  or 03708 506 506 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm). ## **Help us protect the waste industry from waste crime** If you think you know about or suspect illegal waste activities, you can report it to our 24-hour incident hotline: 0800 80 70 60 or 100% anonymously to Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111 or online.

There has been media interest today (Thursday 25 September) in the Environment Agency’s attendance to pollution incidents, including in the BBC. The coverage examines the categorisation process of incidents. The article does not give the full picture around the EA’s performance, and how the organisation is evolving and taking more action than ever before. In particular, we would highlight: * The EA aims to attend all confirmed category 1 and 2 water industry incidents - the most serious types of incident. EA figures for 2024 show that there were 74 such pollution incidents and we attended 53 of them – 72%. We are committed to improving our performance and with more people and better data, we are making progress in improving our response to incidents when a response is required. * We deal with up to 100,000 calls per year. We have a clear rationale on both our initial and final categorisations of incidents and why they can be different. When an incident is first reported to EA control room staff, an initial categorisation is given. Staff then follow a clear process and work with highly trained environmental specialists to gather further information, including from public reports and monitors on sewage outflows. Only then will the EA categorise the incident and make the decision on severity. We are very clear that the final categorisation is only made after further questions and detailed investigations of a number of sources have been concluded. * Incident categorisation changes are made following independent assessments made by Environment Agency staff alone. We are not influenced by water companies on the calls we make. In many instances water companies appeal the EA’s final categorisation, which shows that the approach we are taking is robust. We are committed to improving our performance and creating greater impact wherever we work. This includes investing in more people, better data and tech in order to increase regulation of the water sector. We are investing in 500 additional staff including environment officers, data analysts, enforcement specialists and technical experts, as well as team leaders and managers. We’ve developed new digital systems and significantly increased the number of water company inspections. In 2024/25 the EA delivered over 4600 water company inspections, and we are on track to deliver 10,000 in 2025/26, with a further increase to 11,500 in 2026/27. Staff continue to prioritise attendance at all Category 1 and 2 serious and significant water company pollution incidents but we are also increasing our attendance at Category 3 (minor) water company pollution incidents. Since 2015, we have concluded 65 prosecutions against water and sewerage companies securing fines of over £151 million. **In response to the coverage, an Environment Agency spokesperson said:** “We respond to every water pollution incident report we receive. To make sure we protect people and the environment, we are careful not to underestimate the seriousness of an incident report when it comes in. Final incident categorisations may change when further information comes to light. This is all part of our standard working practice. "Water companies must meet their legal obligations or face enforcement action. We are closing the justice gap by delivering effective regulation and deterring illegal activity - all made possible by increased funding and new powers coming in through the Water (Special Measures) Act." We are also investing around £15 million in enhancing our digital systems and tools. Data and information from lots of sources will be combined to turn data rapidly into regulatory intelligence to easily identify and tackle the highest priority issues. Defra recently announced that the Environment Agency will receive a cash injection of over £189m this financial year - the largest ever budget for water regulation. This will fund more enforcement officers, improved equipment and the latest technology for the regulator. Polluters now also face new uncapped financial penalties, which are quicker and easier to enforce.

**_In this blog, Hampshire police officer PC Terry Read shares how police teams in Hampshire have pooled their skills together and collaborated with partners to target crimes blighting the countryside, including fly-tipping._** The Op Wolf team in Hampshire working together to stop and check waste carrying vehicles to prevent waste crime. Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary has a long-running operational effort known as ‘Op Wolf’. This provides regular opportunities for police and other agencies to engage with waste carriers on the road network, and disrupt any offenders including waste criminals. I work in the Neighbourhoods Policing Team based in the Hart district of Hampshire. I led our most recent Op Wolf in September, with support from other police teams including Roads Policing and the Country Watch Rural Crime Task Force (the Constabulary’s dedicated team of rural crime specialists). Joining us were the Environment Agency, Hart District Council, the DVSA, HMRC, and the Motor Insurers’ Bureau. Based out of Blackbushe Airport off the A30 near Yateley, the op’s primary focus was to engage with motorists transporting waste to prevent any potential fly-tipping. Vehicles transporting other goods and machinery were also stopped and checked by all agencies present. Roads policing officers stopped 30 vehicles and directed them back to the site at Blackbushe where officers and partners got to work conducting necessary checks. Most vehicles were roadworthy and all in order. However, several issues were identified with some vehicles. Two vehicles were being driven with cracked windscreens, three drivers were ticketed due to their loaded vehicles being overweight, one driver was given a ticket for driving without a number plate, and other drivers were found with issues including defective tyres and driving without tax. The DVSA dealt with 11 vehicles for 25 identified issues including worn and defective tyres, and vehicles with brake problems rendering them dangerous on the roads. A pickup truck was seized for having no insurance, and the Environment Agency dealt with a waste carrier who was unable to provide evidence of their waste carrier’s licence or waste transfer note. Operations like this provide a great opportunity for police teams to pool their skills together and call upon the expertise of partner agencies to target offenders using the county's roads. Our focus was on rural criminality, including fly-tipping which blights our countryside, and we had the Environment Agency and local authority with us to support this work. Waste carrier licences were checked, and police teams and other agencies including DVSA and HMRC conducted additional checks and enquiries to deal with any further offences identified. Vehicle stops such as these enable police to check for any number of offences, including individuals potentially transporting stolen goods, and also ensure vehicles transporting heavy loads are safe and roadworthy. A huge part of Hampshire is rural, and we want the communities in these areas to feel supported and to know that we are out there being proactive. We encourage them to keep reporting concerns around rural crime and suspicious people or vehicles.

For many, this has been a glorious summer, with long hot days being enjoyed by family gatherings, holidays and being outside! However, this spring and summer has been dry and the drought is causing significant environmental impacts, with Atlantic salmon, hedgehogs and garden birds struggling (as reported at the recent National Drought Group). August came to a wet end for some places, and this wetter weather continued into September with some very high rainfall in places. With more changeable weather forecast, is the drought over? Unfortunately not. Reservoir levels are still very low and groundwater levels continue to decline, drought conditions are likely to continue through autumn and winter. There are some positives, with some some increases, albeit very small. For example: Yorkshire Water’s reservoirs stocks are 30.8% (as of 16 September) following a 0.2% increase – the first rise in levels since January. Visually with the grass turning green again, how can areas of the country still be in drought? A couple of weeks of rain are enough for lawns to turn green and stop trees shedding leaves. For this reason, many people believe that drought is an easily reversible problem, and that a short period of heavy rain is enough to prevent a prolonged drought. The extremely dry conditions after months of low rainfall makes the ground very dry and compacted, which is hard for rainfall to penetrate. It will take more prolonged rainfall to wet up soils and replenish rivers, reservoirs and groundwater levels. Howden Reservoir, part of Severn Trent’s Upper Derwent Valley group of reservoirs. The hardened ground can even lead to the risk of localised flooding after heavy rainfall, when the volume of water cannot quickly drain away or soak into the ground. This could be from surface water flooding or from rivers rising rapidly as water runs off fields. It can take a long time for rainfall to fully replenish groundwaters, reservoirs and rivers and the environment can take even longer to recover. The challenge of climate change is real and we’re likely to see hotter drier summers and warmer wetter winters as well as more extremes. Here at the Environment Agency, we are continuing to respond to the environmental impacts of drought, including rescuing fish in distress and investigating low flows and algal blooms. We are working closely with water companies to ensure they are following their drought plans and working with other abstractors on managing their access to water. We continue to monitor and replace sediment mats that we installed on the River Chelt, to capture excess silt which can be harmful to aquatic life. Everyone has a part to play, by using a little less water, the more water there is in your local river and the environment we all value.

The Environment Agency has published the latest Atlantic salmon stock assessment for England, providing insights into the health of our salmon populations. The results, based on 2024 data, confirm that salmon stocks remain at critically low levels, underscoring the urgent need for continued and coordinated conservation action. **Current Status** The 2024 assessment data reveals that 88% of England's principal salmon rivers are classified as 'at risk' or 'probably at risk' - a figure that remains largely unchanged from previous years. Only a small number of rivers achieved the conservation egg deposition targets necessary for healthy salmon populations, highlighting the urgent need for continued conservation action. Encouraging signs emerge from the angling community's commitment to conservation, with catch and release practices helping to protect returning spawners and contribute to future breeding populations. A salmon on the River Severn, Shrewsbury **Understanding the Challenge** Atlantic salmon are remarkable fish that spend their early years in freshwater before migrating to the ocean to mature, eventually returning to their birth rivers to spawn. This complex lifecycle, spanning both freshwater and marine environments, makes them particularly vulnerable to environmental pressures. The decline in salmon populations, from around 1.4 million adult fish returning in the 1970s-1980s to fewer than 500,000 today across the UK, reflects multiple interconnected challenges. These include reduced marine survival, poor water quality, climate change impacts, migration barriers from historic infrastructure, and habitat degradation. Salmon serve as vital indicators of river and marine ecosystem health. Their decline signals broader environmental challenges that affect not just this species, but entire aquatic ecosystems and the communities that depend on them. **The Environment Agency’s Response** As the statutory body responsible for maintaining and improving salmon fisheries, the Environment Agency is taking comprehensive action across multiple fronts. We're scaling up our regulatory work, increasing farm inspections from 4,000 to 6,000 annually to tackle agricultural pollution – the biggest cause of poor water quality in England. We’re also increasing water company inspections from 1,409 in 2022/23 to over 4,000 in 2024/25, with a target of 10,000 by March 2026. We're working with farmers and water companies providing guidance and support whilst taking enforcement action where necessary. Physical barriers to fish migration are being systematically removed through collaborative partnerships. The 'Unlocking the Severn' project reopened 158 miles of river, while decades of partnership work across Yorkshire has achieved a remarkable milestone - the first Atlantic salmon parr recorded in the River Don in over 200 years. These successes demonstrate the effectiveness of long-term collaborative conservation efforts and support the Great Yorkshire Rivers partnership's ambitious aim of addressing artificial barriers negatively impacting fish populations in Yorkshire. We're also investigating innovative solutions, such as our current study on the River Itchen to improve juvenile salmon migration past water control structures. Hirst Mill Weir rock ramp on the River Aire, Yorkshire. Rock ramps are a type of fish passage **A Collaborative Effort** Salmon conservation cannot succeed through the efforts of any single organisation. It requires extensive collaboration across sectors and stakeholders. We continue to work with water companies to reduce pollution incidents and improve compliance with environmental standards. The angling community has embraced catch and release practices, helping protect returning spawners. Agricultural stakeholders are working with us to implement better environmental practices. Internationally, we collaborate through the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO) to address challenges in marine environments, recognising that salmon conservation is a transnational issue requiring coordinated responses. Local communities, conservation groups, and volunteers contribute through habitat restoration projects, citizen science initiatives, and advocacy for stronger environmental protections. **Looking Forward** While salmon stocks remain at concerning levels, there are examples of progress. The River Don's story shows that even rivers long considered lost can support breeding salmon populations again. Recovery will take time. Salmon's complex lifecycle means improvements may take years to reflect in population data. But every successful spawning event, every barrier removed, and every partnership forged contributes to the long-term goal of restoring sustainable salmon populations. The 2024 assessment reinforces that protecting salmon requires sustained commitment from all sectors of society. As we continue this vital work, we remain focused on transparency, collaboration, and delivering meaningful environmental improvements. _The Environment Agency continues to monitor salmon populations closely and welcomes partnerships with organisations committed to salmon conservation. For more detailed data and findings from our monitoring work, read theAssessment of Salmon Stocks and Fisheries in England and Wales 2024._

Environment Agency fisheries officers respond to reports of fish in distress due to low water in the River Redlake, Shropshire. **What is the situation in England?** Drought was declared in the West and East Midlands on 15 July, joining the North-West and Yorkshire which went into drought in June. Dry weather continues to impact water resources across England requiring water companies to take action to manage demand with the public being urged to use water wisely. Across England, rainfall was 20% less than long term average for June. June was also the hottest on record for England, with two heatwaves driving unusually high demand for water. Cleaning a weir, like above, helps ensure our portable gauge measures the river flow accurately. **What is the water situation in the Midlands?** In the Midlands, public water supplies are currently secure, but we are seeing adverse effects on the natural environment due to the ongoing lack of rain. And while groundwater levels have been normal across the region, they are starting to fall. Meanwhile, river levels are already low with some river flows in the region at their lowest for June since 1976. For example, the River Severn catchment received only two-thirds of the rainfall it normally does in June, while the Trent catchment fared worse, with only 37% of its long-term average for June. Lack of rain combined with warm temperatures lead to low water levels and less oxygen in rivers and streams – a stressful situation for the wildlife that depend on them. **Replenishing rivers** One of the Environment Agency's roles is to ensure there is enough water for wildlife as well as for the public water supply. So, what is the Environment Agency in the Midlands doing to achieve this during the current prolonged period of dry weather? We operate water supplement schemes that support rivers – such as the River Severn Regulation. Groundwater being pumped into the River Severn through the Shropshire Groundwater Scheme **River Severn Regulation** The Environment Agency constantly monitors the River Severn to ensure that demands for water are met without compromising the river’s ability to support the natural environment. If levels drop too low, we can top up the river by releasing water from two reservoirs in Wales or the Shropshire Groundwater Scheme. On 12 August, the Shropshire Groundwater Scheme was switched on due to the current drought, and is pumping nearly 40 Olympic sized swimming pools of fresh groundwater every day into the River Severn. The scheme pumps groundwater stored naturally in sandstone underlying much of North Shropshire, and delivers it into the River Severn through a 53km network of pipes that are 80 metres underground. It can release up to 240 million litres per day. **How is the Environment Agency supporting fish?** We respond to reports to our incident hotline of fish in distress, due to low water or low oxygen – or both. You can report sightings of fish in distress to our incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60. One of the 750 brown trout rescued from the River Lathkill. Credit: Lou Johnson In August, our officers conducted a fish rescue in the Peak District. More than 750 brown trout were rescued from a 1km section of the River Lathkill that was drying up. Fish can be safely removed from rivers using electric fishing. Credit: Lou Johnson The team used electric fishing to safely remove the fish, and moved them further downstream where water levels were higher. Once water levels return to normal, the fish will be able to make their way back to their original habitat. Environment Agency fisheries officers support angling clubs by providing aeration equipment. We also help fisheries managers such as angling clubs to protect fish stocks – for example, by providing equipment to pump oxygen into the water. Low water levels at Dowdeswell reservoir in Gloucestershire At Dowdeswell reservoir in Gloucestershire, our fisheries team is monitoring low water levels which are dropping significantly. While the reservoir is for flood storage, not public water supply, low levels could impact fish in the reservoir and downstream. Our officers are advising the angling club owner on best methods to protect the fish, and are ready to conduct a fish rescue if required. Officers have also installed sediment mats on the River Chelt to capture excess silt that could move downstream due to the reservoir’s low water levels. Excess silt can be harmful to aquatic life. Installing sediment mats on the River Chelt to capture excess silt, which can be harmful to aquatic life **How is the Environment Agency working with abstractors?** As the government body responsible for licensing abstractions in England (taking water from the environment), we encourage farmers and growers to take and use water in a sustainable way. This includes putting temporary limits on abstraction licences and supporting water transfers (where someone with water to spare supplies another abstractor). We also ensure water companies have robust drought plans in place, should they need to activate them (it's your water company who will decide whether or not a hosepipe ban is needed this summer). Find out more about how we are supporting the farming community to manage the impacts of dry weather. Last but not least, we monitor environmental indicators – including rainfall data provided by the Met Office as well as the water level information provided by our network of river and groundwater gauges. So that's what we do. But it's fair to say that everyone has a part to play in ensuring there's enough water for wildlife as well as for people – water companies, farmers and growers, businesses and the general public. **What can I do?** You can do your bit by only using the water you really need to at home. There are lots of tips on the Water Wise website or you can follow Waterwise on Facebook to get more ideas.