A new voluntary guidance document to promote operational co-operation between local fire brigades and water companies in England and Wales has been published by Water UK. The new document provides guidance for both parties to help them gain a better understanding of each others’ duties and responsibilities and further develop day-to-day working relationships.
Source: wwt

Changes have been made to Portsmouth Water and South East Water’s licences to remove large industrial users of water from the basket of charges on which price limits apply. Southern Water’s licence was changed earlier in the month to remove large industrial water users from the basket of charges. This means that all ten of the water and sewerage companies in England and Wales have now had their licences changed.
Source: wwt

The Environment Agency has begun a consultation exercise on guidance it intends to use to protect groundwater against pollution from landfll sites. The guidance, which is being prepared for Agency staff, sets out the interpretation and application of the relevant element of legislation relating to the protection of groundwater resources from waste disposal.
Source: wwt

The Pipeline Industries Guild and the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management have jointly organised a one day seminar entitled ‘The maintenance of sewer systems’ to take place in London on Monday 29 March 1999. For further information contact Arthur Ree don (Tel) 0171 235 7938 or Sarah Penfold on (Tel) 0171 831 3110.
Source: wwt

Mid Kent Water emerged with the highest amount of positive UK national media coverage in the last quarter of 1998, according to the latest PressWatch survey of press comment. In second place came Wessex Water, with Cambridge Water and Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux in joint third. Utilities conglomerate Hyder has a bad quarter by its very high media standards as journalists lumped upon chief executive Graham Hawker’s criticism of industry regulator Ofwat’s plans to cut water bill prices.
Source: wwt

The Environment Agency has begun a consultation on guidance it intends to use to protect groundwater against pollution from landfill sites. The guidance, which is being prepared for Agency staff, sets out the interpretation and application of Regulation 15 of the Waste Management Licensing Regulation 1994 which transposes into UK law the provisions contained in the EC Groundwater Directive.
Source: iem

A proposal to introduce tax incentives for investment in environmental technology has won the backing of an all-party committee of MPs. In its fourth pre-budget report, the Environmental Audit Committee has come out in support of a campaign launched by the Environmental Industries Commission in October 1998.
Source: iem

The UK has pledged £330,000 for special projects to improve the world environment. The projects, run by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), include: £100,000 for work to develop a Persistant Organic Pollutants Protocol; £115,00 for the Regional Seas Trust Fund; and £50,000 for a UNEP workshop for up to 50 countries on practical enforcement of environmental crime.
Source: iem

Business Link Leicestershire (BLL) has launched a new initiative to help Leicestershire businesses develop environmental management systems and get up to speed regarding environmental legislation. From its ‘Green Desk’, BLL can draw on a network of specialist support and information to deal with a variety of environmental queries as well as arrange for an environmental audit. Tel: 0116 255 9944.
Source: iem

A new website to provide information about regeneration activities to local people, regeneration partnerships and community and voluntary groups was launched last month by Regeneration Minister Richard Caborn. Visit the site on www.regen.net.
Source: iem

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott last month announced a £40m funding package for English Partnerships to bring forward the revitalisation of a further 26 coalfields. English Partnerships began the ambitious £347m regeneration of 56 English coalfield sites in 1987, taking ownership from British Coal.
Source: iem

In an effort to reduce compliance costs for its members, packaging waste compliance scheme Valpak is entering the market for procurement of obligated UK packaging waste. Initially, this will be plastic packaging waste, primarily shrink and stretch wrap film (LDPE and LLDPE). The activity may later be expanded to include other packaging materials. Source: iem

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