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.

Environment Agency Wales has been advising local businesses at the Tir Llwyd Industrial Estate how to avoid polluting the River Gele.

Anglian Water has been fined a total of £22,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £4,489 after a rising main burst twice in seven months ruining crops both times.

Britain’s largest water company, Thames Water Utilities Limited, has been ordered to pay more than £10,000 after pleading guilty to one offence of causing silt to enter a tributary of the Bydemill Brook in Wiltshire in 2008.