pollution Archives - Watershed Investigations

Posts Tagged ‘pollution’

‘Forever chemicals’ found in drinking water sources across England

Posted November 28, 2023 by Watershed

Potentially toxic “forever chemicals” have been detected in the drinking water sources at 17 of 18 England’s water companies, with 11,853 samples testing positive, something experts say they are “extremely alarmed” by.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – a group of 10,000 or so human-made chemicals widely used in industrial processes, firefighting foams and consumer products – were found in samples of raw and treated water tested by water companies last year, according to the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), the Guardian and Watershed Investigations has found.

Scientists call on ministers to cut limits for ‘forever chemicals’ in UK tap water

Posted October 19, 2023 by Watershed

Acceptable levels of “forever chemicals” in drinking water should be reduced tenfold and a new national chemicals agency created to protect public health, the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) has told the UK government.

The RSC has produced a map using data published in the Guardian with Watershed Investigations in February, revealing that a “third of the watercourses tested contain medium- or high-risk levels of PFAS, according to the DWI’s own classification system”.

Watershed at Labour Party Conference 2023

Posted October 12, 2023 by Watershed

Rachel Salvidge gave a speech on chemical threats to rivers and seas at the Labour Party Conference, alongside shadow environment minister Ruth Jones and Francesca Ginley from the Marine Conservation Society at an event hosted by Labour’s environment campaign, SERA.

Unmonitored toxic road runoff polluting rivers

Posted October 6, 2023 by Watershed

A toxic cocktail of damaging chemicals created by road pollution is flowing into England’s rivers and no regulator is monitoring the scale of its impact on wildlife or public health.

More than 18,000 outfalls, such as pipes, and about 7,700 soakaways managed by National Highways discharge rainwater potentially contaminated with heavy metals, hydrocarbons, microplastics and other chemicals from the main road network into rivers and on to land.

Government slammed over sewage pollution

Posted September 20, 2023 by Watershed

Watershed appeared on BBC News to discuss fresh reports that water companies appear to be dumping raw sewage into rivers in breach of their permits. Separately, Watershed was also asked to explain to BBC News viewers why the Office for Environmental Protection has announced that Defra, the Environment Agency and Ofwat may have all failed to comply with the law over their regulation of sewage pollution.

Farm pollution blocks new homes across country

Posted June 12, 2023 by Watershed

Pollution from farms has prevented housing developments being approved by 35 councils, analysis of Environment Agency data by The Times and Watershed reveals.

Of the known reasons rivers failed to meet standards, 44% were reported to be due to farm pollution and 21% a result of the water sector.

The Independent and the Evening Standard used Watershed’s analysis to bolster their stories about the abolition of water protection rules.

Sewage spills blamed as E coli forces Cornish shellfish sites to close

Posted May 31, 2023 by Watershed

Watershed worked with the Guardian and ITV News to expose high levels of E coli in oysters around the country. “Very high” levels of E coli found in oysters and mussels have led to the closure of 11 shellfish production zones in Cornwall. In an email seen by Watershed Investigations, the Cornwall Port Health Authority told food business operators they “must not collect the affected animals from this area”.