Last week the Environment Agency released a list of the ten most improved rivers in England and Wales. Conservationists have criticised the report saying it presents a rosy view of river health and ignores the many waterways struggling with pollution, over abstraction and other threats.

Chemical company Esterchem Ltd was ordered to to pay a financial penalty of £25,000 at Stoke-on-Trent Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to one charge of polluting the Leek Brook and two charges of failing to comply with the conditions of their environmental permit last Friday.

The European Commission and the European Environment Agency (EEA) have published new updated information on releases and transfers from industrial installations reporting to the European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR).

One of Europe's largest paper recyclers, St Regis Paper Company Ltd, was ordered by a court last week to pay nearly £500,000 after committing environmental breaches - including misleading the Environment Agency.

2011 has already seen a number of successful prosecutions brought by Severn Trent Water against a number of companies for illegal discharges into the sewer network.

A Co Tyrone Company has been fined £12,500 at Omagh Magistrates’ Court  for a water pollution offence.

Two farms have been fined thousands of pounds this week for two separate slurry pollution incidents.

Northern Ireland (NI) has introduced new Regulations under the Water Framework Directive to control oil storage.

The courts isued big fines last week to two companies responsible for major water pollution offences. In one case an oil spill cost the firm concerned over £17,500.