News and communications

In his final speech on water, Sir James Bevan reflects on the debate around water quality over his seven years as Environment Agency Chief Executive.

• Updated: 21 February 2023

A consistent approach to sustainable drainage systems is set to be incorporated into new developments in England.

• Updated: 10 January 2023

For the second year running, our 148 monitored bathing beaches in Devon and Cornwall have broken records for water quality standards.

• Updated: 30 November 2022

Plans will benefit protected wildlife sites and create new habitats for nature

• Updated: 25 November 2022

Potential civil penalty to rise from £250,000 to up to £250 million to help bring quicker enforcement action against water companies for causing pollution.

• Updated: 3 October 2022

Devon and Cornwall’s coastline is being enjoyed by millions of holidaymakers and local residents alike this summer.

• Updated: 25 August 2022

Latest annual Environmental Performance Assessment shows environmental performance of England’s nine water and sewerage companies has declined.

• Updated: 14 July 2022

Third conviction for Anglian Water in 2022, with civil engineers also guilty over river pollution.

• Updated: 7 June 2022

The Environment Agency and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust have worked together on the 'Wild Wiske Revival: Clean and Green' project over the last three years.

• Updated: 18 May 2022

The Government has reinforced its commitment to improving water quality including through plans for water companies to eliminate harm from sewage discharges.

• Updated: 16 May 2022

The Environment Agency is monitoring 149 bathing water sites across Devon and Cornwall until 30 September.

• Updated: 16 May 2022

The bathing water season started today (15 May) with the Environment Agency carrying out regular testing of water quality at designated bathing sites.

• Updated: 15 May 2022

Dozens of fish killed in Cambridgeshire incident.

• Updated: 6 May 2022

Part of the Wolvercote Mill Stream at Port Meadow, Oxford, and the East Cowes Esplanade on the Isle of Wight will be added to the list of bathing waters.

• Updated: 12 April 2022

Environment Agency publishes Event Duration Monitoring data for 2021.

• Updated: 31 March 2022

Northumbrian Water has paid £165,000 to Tyne Rivers Trust after an unauthorised discharge led to a pollution incident near Newcastle.

• Updated: 17 February 2022

Yorkshire Water pays Yorkshire Wildlife Trust £300,000 in an Enforcement Undertaking which has been accepted by the Environment Agency.

• Updated: 15 February 2022

Water companies urged to do more to protect the environment and reduce storm overflows

• Updated: 2 February 2022

99% of bathing waters in England have passed water quality standards following testing at over 400 designated sites carried out by the Environment Agency.

• Updated: 21 January 2022

New statistics show the number of designated bathing waters meeting strict quality standards is the highest since 2015

• Updated: 19 January 2022