While debate still continues about the effectiveness of measures put in place to mitigate the current floods, national agencies appear to have overlooked an innovative Scandinavian solution which has prevented three French towns from serious flooding this year alone.
Water UK, the body which represents the UK and water and wastewater sector at national and European level, have flagged up the role played by the utilities in the emergency response to the current floods.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has announced that more than 200 personnel from the Royal Navy, Army and RAF will be trained by the Environment Agency over the next week to act as flood defence assessors.
As part of the government’s ongoing work to deal with the floods, the Prime Minister has announced details of a £10 million scheme to provide further support for businesses in areas affected by flooding.
The Welsh Assembly has said that a review has found that Wales’ flood and coastal defences performed well in the December and January storms, protecting over 99% of coastal properties at risk of flooding.
The London Assembly has called for the Mayor to prioritise funding to restore rivers in the capital, helping to cut the risk of further flooding.
The House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee has launched a formal inquiry into the implications of the current floods.
MPs on the House of Commons Select Committee on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee are highlighting the need for a proper understanding of whether flood defence funding is being allocated in the most effective way.
The Government’s official advisers on climate change say that increasing flood risk is the greatest threat to the UK from a warmer world – but neither central Government or Local Authorities are spending enough on flood defences.
The Government has announced the latest in a series of new measures to help communities hit by flooding, including £5000 grants for individual households and businesses and a £10 million fund for farmers.
Near-real-time microbial monitoring of wastewater discharge and bathing waters is now possible thanks to the BactoSense ID solution created by Swiss-based bNovate Technologies.
ABB has launched AquaMaster+™, a digital platform for smart water network management, designed to help water utilities monitor, analyze and manage their water networks, preventing pipeline water losses and optimizing operations.
Craig Nienaber, Business Development Manager for Safe Access Solutions (SAS) at HUBER Technology, explores why the company is seeing a growing level of interest in its safe access solutions for critical infrastructure providers, including their application in wastewater treatment assets.
Albion Water, the first NAV (New Appointment & Variation) to have been established in1999 and now under the ownership of SDS Water Group, has appointed Andy Holland as its new Director of Business Development.