Water & Wastewater Treatment Magazine
Issue link: https://fhpublishing.uberflip.com/i/754065
4 | DECEMBER 2016 | WWT | www.wwtonline.co.uk Industry news December England's favourite swimming spots are the cleanest they have been since records began, according to new statistics from the Environment Agency. Bathing water quality, tested at 413 beaches and lakes up and down the country, is the best on record and 98.5% passed tough standards this year. Just 28% of bathing waters met the top water quality standards in the early 1990s; now 93.2 per cent are rated excellent and good. The number of bathing waters rated 'excellent' has increased by 5.9 percentage points since 2015, and five bathing waters have met at least the minimum standards for the first time. Environment secretary Andrea Leadsom said: "England's bathing waters are enjoyed by millions of people every year, which is why I am delighted the England's bathing water quality 'the best on record' Contract Tracker WPL to supply Scottish Water Hampshire-based package treatment plant specialist WPL has won three contracts with Scottish Water to supply submerged aeration filter (SAF) plants, conical settlement tanks and hire equipment. The frameworks will be in place for five years with an option to extend for a further three. WPL will be one of two SAF suppliers to Scottish Water, and will have exclusivity on hire of SAF treatment units, microscreens and lamella clarifiers. Affinity civils contract for Murphy J. Murphy & Sons has been awarded a place on a five-year framework agreement with Affinity Water. The framework, the first such agreement that Murphy have won with the water company, covers minor civils work at treatment plants in Hertfordshire and London. Murphy will work on projects between £25,000 and £250,000 in value. MUS in £20M mains deal Morrison Utility Services (MUS) has been appointed to deliver mains renewal and developer services programmes for Affinity Water. Beginning in January 2017 and covering all three Affinity Water geographical areas, the four-year framework has an estimated value of £20M per year. water quality at our beaches and lakes is better than at any time since before the Industrial Revolution. This year more than 93% of bathing waters were rated excellent and good, but we're not complacent – we'll keep working to improve our environment and make sure it's protected for future generations." Sir James Bevan, EA chief executive, said: "Water quality at beaches has improved again this year, 98.5% passed the standards and 69.5% met the highest rating of Excellent. The Environment Agency has led successful work to protect people, tourism and the environment. We will continue to ensure bathing waters are maintained and improved further, so we need partners and the public to work with us to reduce pollution." The seaside economy is worth more than £3.6BN a RESERVOIR PLAN: A new operating plan for Northumbrian Water's Kielder Reservoir is to give it a role in protecting the Tyne Valley from flooding. The 200 billion litre capacity reservoir will be operated at a lower level – between 76% and 86% full – during the winter months, in order to increase the capacity available for flood storage if required. year and 146M people visit Britain's beaches annually. Water UK said the water companies are acutely aware of how important clean bathing water is to customers, local businesses and the tourist trade, and the water industry has invested billions of pounds since the 1990s on measures that protect the UK's 'unique and beautiful' bathing waters. Sarah Mukherjee, director of environment at Water UK, said: "Despite these positive results, water companies continue to invest heavily into the environment, and are looking to the future. The sector is working with a wide variety of groups to develop a programme of robust research to help deliver a sewerage and drainage system that's affordable, resilient to climate change and that will serve the UK for generations to come." 75% of people aged 18-24 are unaware of whether or not they live in a flood risk area, according to a YouGov survey for the Environment Agency. The agency launched its Flood Awareness Campaign last month.