News & Articles
23-Apr-2010
Business leaders are becoming increasingly concerned about the risk of water shortages and are trying to put in place measures to address water-related risks in their operations, report the WWF in a recent article. Highlighting work by Goldman Sachs in 2008, the report claims that global water shortages are a greater risk to businesses than rising food prices and dwindling energy reserves.
To read the report by the WWF on water scarcity issues for businesses please visit
http://assets.wwf.org.uk/downloads/water_scarcity_aw.pdf
15-Mar-2010
The Environment Agency has published new plans which outline how they will manage increasing pressures on water resources with the aim of securing water supplies and ensuring a healthy water environment. With the population of England and Wales predicted to increase by 15 million people by 2051 and water demand expected to rise by 5% by 2020 increased efforts are being put forward to secure water resources for the future. Actions proposed by the EA include increased water metering, sharing of water across water companies and better water efficiency standards for new buildings.
To read the EA press release on the Water Resources Strategy Actions Plans please visit
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/news/116602.aspx?
To read the Water Resources Strategy Action Plan for England and Wales please visit the EA web site here
http://publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/pdf/GEHO0210BRTV-E-E.pdf
03-Mar-2010
The Environmental Permitting Regulations (England and Wales) are being extended to cover water discharge consents and groundwater authorisations and further promotes the government’s intention to have a simpler, single permitting system. These extended regulations are due to come into force on 6 April 2010 and will replace the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2007. In due course water abstraction and impoundment licences are expected to be covered by the regulations as well.
To find out more about the new regulations or how the changes will affect existing permits or authorisations you hold please visit the Environment Agency NetRegs web site here
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/netregs/legislation/future/105377.aspx
02-Mar-2010
The European Commission has for the first time since the Nitrates Directive was introduced in 1991 provided a comprehensive review of nitrate levels in European waters. A third of all the groundwater quality monitoring sites in the 27 EU Member States displayed an increasing trend in nitrate levels, while 15% of the sites had average nitrate levels in excess of the 50 mg/l drinking water limit. Central England forms one of the regions highlighted as having high nitrate concentrations (above 40 mg/l). The review also found that shallow groundwater has been most affected with the highest proportion of contaminated water lying between 5 and 15 metres below the ground surface. Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) which have been imposed to help reduce nitrate concentrations cover approximately 40% of the EU 27 Member State territory.
To read the European Commission Nitrate Review please visit
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2010:0047:FIN:EN:PDF
25-Feb-2010
Many prominent geoscientists think that a forward look in earth sciences particularly in relation to UK science strategies is a priority and are coordinating a forward look or horizon scanning exercise. The exercise is adopting a bottom up approach and aims to target earth science funders and policy makers. As part of the process over 100 key members of the earth science community met at the Geological Society for a workshop to discuss and make recommendations for the future earth science themes. The output of the exercise will take the form of an official document which will outline the objectives for the next decade including the investment, training and infrastructure necessary to achieve them.
There is now a period of consultation where comments on the workshop outputs and the proposed science themes are being sought. To find out more about the consultation please visit.
www.bgs.ac.uk/ukgeoscience/consultation.html. Consultation closes on 15 March 2010.
Previous Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next Page