Search results

Guidance on how to check a property for a plumbing and drainage misconnection.

The UK has over 600 designated bathing waters, put in place under the EU Bathing Waters Directive. While people may swim in many locations, designated bathing waters are regularly tested throughout the bathing water season each year.

100,000 kilometres of England’s sewer pipes were built before the mid-1960s and use an old-fashioned design that carries two kinds of waste: rainwater from street drains, and sewage from homes.

They are therefore known as ‘combined’ sewers. Combined sewers were built many decades before modern rates of population growth and climate change were understood, which means that there is often now more sewage and rainwater going into these systems than first envisaged.

Wide, shallow and crystal clear, chalk streams are rivers almost unique to England. They rise from springs, flow through chalk and their mineral-rich water is a haven for aquatic plants, insects and species including otters, kingfishers and water voles. 

For much of the past 100 years our rivers have been in a state of crisis. Until the 1990s sewage and other pollutants caused the numbers of invertebrates, fish and mammals to plummet. In recent decades water quality has greatly improved but the water industry and other sectors still face considerable challenges to ensure the health of our rivers meets the expectations of 21st century users.

Wet wipes are a leading cause of fatbergs and sewer blockages which have a major impact on the environment and contribute to pollution in our rivers and water courses.

Thousands of properties suffer sewer flooding every year in the UK, creating misery for homeowners and businesses, and leading to costly clean-up bills and increased insurance costs.

The Energy and Utility Skills Council (EUSC) have developed National Occupational Standards (NOS) for entry into confined spaces. The Water industry has produced this Occasional Guidance Note (OGN) to record a number of risk assessment and control measures including these in support the use of these competency standards.