Other stories from last week

(by Karma Loveday)

Yorkshire Water was fined £733,333 plus costs at Derby Crown Court for three separate sewage spills in 12 months across 2018-19, at Pools Brook Country Park in Staveley, in a case brought by the Environment Agency. 

Law firm Leigh Day has expanded the group claim it is leading against South West Water and its parent Pennon Group over allegations that these companies are responsible for sewage pollution affecting coastal communities. The claim was initially brought on behalf of residents and businesses in Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton, but has now been expanded to include other ‘worst affected’ towns and beaches across the area.

Business Stream has boosted its score in the EcoVadis sustainability assessment, retaining the gold standard and climbing from 80/100 last year to 83/100 this year. The score puts the retailer in the 98th percentile of the more than 150,000 companies assessed globally by EcoVadis. The assessment is based on international sustainability standards, including the Global Reporting Initiative, the United Nations Global Compact and ISO 26000:2010.

The Drinking Water Inspectorate has published a study by WRc, to evaluate different potential microbial indicators and techniques, and report on their effectiveness and applicability to drinking water regulation in England and Wales. The DWI said the aim was to inform regulatory and operational practices on the usefulness and applicability of indicators and novel indicator detection technologies for safeguarding drinking water quality. The report and its recommendations can be viewed at: A Review of Microbial Indicators of Faecal Contamination – Drinking Water Inspectorate

The University of Bath has led an international team to develop a new catalyst — a substance that speeds up chemical reactions — that uses sunlight to break down PFAS. This photocatalyst is based on carbon nitrite combined with a rigid microporous polymer. The polymer helps bind PFAS to the catalyst, which uses light to break it down into carbon dioxide and fluoride. The researchers said they hoped this technology can be scaled up and used to remove PFAS from the environment.

Defra and Natural England have appointed Jacobs to provide coordination and field delivery services for the England Ecosystem Survey. This is a cornerstone of the Government’s Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment programme, which is assessing England's land, freshwater and coastal ecosystems to produce a baseline of England’s natural assets by 2029.

South East Water has opened its 2026 Community Chest Fund, which makes £20,000 available for local good causes, in pots of up to £2,000. Applications are open to group projects that are water or environment related, or help the young, old or disadvantaged. Separately, South East Water has embedded a new support tool on its website, designed in partnership with Policy in Practice. This is to signpost customers to help to pay bills or access priority services, from within and beyond the company.