Under the Water Framework Directive (WFD) regulations, only 16% of rivers in England are classed as achieving good or high ecological status. In comparison, this value is 29% in Northern Ireland, 43% in Wales, and 57% in Scotland. The …
SuDS (Sustainable Drainage Systems) are replacing traditional urban pipe only systems and bring together water, landscape and people. But on many constrained development sites, the drive to make drainage hydraulically fail-safe is having the opposite effect: pushing designs towards large, …
The River Wye is one of the longest rivers in the UK. It stretches 215 km from Mid-Wales to the Severn Estuary. The river and its catchment contain several nationally rare flora and fauna; crayfish, lamprey, salmon and otter live …
Hidden Waters – What is Groundwater Flooding?
Typically, we picture flooding as a sudden event, such as rivers bursting their banks or flash floods after a storm. However, groundwater flooding operates on a much longer timescale. It occurs due to …
The Technical Advice Note (TAN) 15 provides essential guidance for local authorities, developers, planners and flood-risk specialists on managing development, flooding and coastal erosion in Wales.
TAN 15 has come a long way from its release in 2004, with its …
Our previous article ‘Flood Disadvantage Time for a Change’ addressed the social vulnerability of individuals and communities effects their ability to respond to flood events. Building on flood response, this article aims to examine how social vulnerability can …
Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large family of over 7,000 synthetic chemicals that have been in use since the 1940s. Known for their durability, PFAS contain strong carbon-fluorine bonds, making them resistant to heat, water, …
Nutrient neutrality rules that protect water quality are under threat in England. The government argues that 100,000 additional homes will be built in the next decade as a result.
Excess nutrients into waterways can lead to eutrophication: …
WHS can ensure that piled foundations and penetrating ground improvements present no risk to controlled waters.
Depending on ground conditions and development loads, some foundations need to be supported on …
Economic pressures, social divides, and pressing environmental problems fuel angst in today’s world. The pessimism of ‘eco-anxiety’ is driven by fear for the environment’s future, and flood risks feature large. We must shape something different.
“The best way to predict …