Ribble Rivers Trust has been funded by United Utilities to create new woodlands at Sabden, Samlesbury, and the Forest of Bowland as part of the company’s innovative Catchment Systems Thinking (CaST) approach which promotes a holistic approach to managing the company’s catchment land.

New research undertaken by Ofwat shows that almost six in ten (59%) customers want their water company to prioritise improving the quality and cleanliness of rivers in England and Wales - even if this were to increase the price of their water bills.

Wild Atlantic salmon stocks in UK rivers are reaching crisis point, according to the latest stock assessment report which estimates they are at their lowest levels on record.

New plans announced by the Government to help safeguard England’s protected sites by driving down nutrient pollution will place a new legal duty on water companies in England to upgrade wastewater treatment works by 2030 in ‘nutrient neutrality’ areas to the highest achievable technological levels.

United Utilities has announced further details of a £230 million programme of environmental investment under way across the North West to improve 184km of the region’s rivers by 2025, including major upgrades at a number of wastewater treatment works.

Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water has completed their £8 million investment project to upgrade the wastewater network and improve river quality in Presteigne.

Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England, Jonson Cox, Ofwat chair and Emma Howard Boyd, Environment Agency chair are warning that sewage in water is a growing public health problem and are calling for water companies to take the initiative and go faster in tackling storm sewage discharges.

Following on from the launch of Get River Positive in March, Severn Trent has announced the UK’s largest river quality improvement programme with plans to transform 15km of waterways into bathing waters.

The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) has welcomed the Government response to its report, Water quality in rivers, as demonstrating a welcome shift in attitude and an increase in Government ambition on water quality after decades of inaction.

Welsh Water, the only not-for-profit water company in England and Wales, has been working with Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) on the completion of its new forward-thinking surface water drainage system to support the regeneration of the area and to ensure the drainage system is more resilient to cope with the effects of climate change.