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Reposted by Alastair Chisholm

planetpossible.bsky.social @planetpossible.bsky.social · 14d

September MiniPod out today with @alastairchisholm.bsky.social joining us to discuss:
- what UK govt will action after many reviews and reports into Water
- who should inform people about drought?
- What are Sponge Cities and how can they help us meet enviro challenges
🎧⬇️
bity.ly/PP_MiniPod_Sep25

The UK is getting drier. Could reusing greywater help?

Reposted by Alastair Chisholm

ciwem.bsky.social @ciwem.bsky.social · Jun 24

The UK is getting drier. Could reusing greywater help?

🗣️ With comment from CIWEM's Alastair Chisholm and The Rivers Trust's Mark Lloyd.

@theriverstrust.bsky.social
@alastairchisholm.bsky.social

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Experts say the average Briton uses too much water per day and societal change needs to start today to tackle looming water crisis

Why the UK still won't have enough water despite building new reservoirs | ITV News

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Alastair Chisholm @alastairchisholm.bsky.social · May 30

If reservoirs alone or tackling leakage won't save us from water scarcity & with flood risk on the rise, we need an overarching National Rainwater Strategy to inform water management in developments.
Rainwater reuse & SuDS.
The benefits would be big. More: www.ewsc.org.uk/project-repo...

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Alastair Chisholm @alastairchisholm.bsky.social · May 30

Great piece by @itvnews.bsky.social on why the UK still won't have enough water despite building new reservoirs, and some of the other approaches that could unlock water resilient housing and wider economic growth in water scarce areas. @ciwem.bsky.social

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykj5...

YouTube video by ITV News

www.youtube.com

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Alastair Chisholm @alastairchisholm.bsky.social · May 14

On every level allowing special dispensation for Thames would be a disaster + set a horrendous precedent.
- Other companies- why bother to comply?
- Govt elected on a mandate to clean up rivers/ seas seen as utter frauds
- Regulators a total laughing stock
www.theguardian.com/business/nil...

A torrent of special pleas from Thames Water

Company hopes to win big compromises from regulators to get its financial restructuring over the line

Southern Water pauses water-saving scheme despite drought fears

2

Alastair Chisholm @alastairchisholm.bsky.social · May 13

That hosepipe bans are one of the first drought measures implemented shows how effective water efficiency is. Home visits are an important part of longer-term programmes. In the SE, 1/2 of new water needs are to leave more in the environment @adamvaughan.bsky.social. www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...

The company’s home visits will be put on hold at the end of June — potentially during the peak of concern over water supplies and hosepipe bans

www.thetimes.com

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Reposted by Alastair Chisholm

Shosha Adie @shoshaadie.bsky.social · May 8

@alastairchisholm.bsky.social, CIWEM policy director, has warned that although measures like upgrading infrastructure and fixing leakage are important, “ministers can’t keep pushing the focus onto water companies and failing to look at the impact of their own housing growth".

More @endsreport.com ⬇️

Water companies urged to prepare for ‘possible’ summer drought after driest spring in decades

Water companies have been urged to prepare for a medium risk of summer drought following the driest Spring since 1961, after a meeting of the National Drought Group on Wednesday.

www.endsreport.com

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Alastair Chisholm @alastairchisholm.bsky.social · May 6

2) Govt yet again blames inheritance of a "crumbling water system" from the Tories.
That may be, but it needs to stop blaming and get acting. Water efficiency is highly effective in drought yet govt's done nothing to progress measures set up by last gov.
www.ciwem.org/news/governm...

Government can’t hide behind Tories on lack of climate adaptation action - CIWEM

CIWEM policy director Alastair Chisholm says the government has easy opportunities to demonstrate its climate adaptation credentials.

www.ciwem.org

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Alastair Chisholm @alastairchisholm.bsky.social · May 6

1) The National Drought Group meet on Wednesday. Water companies likely to activate drought plans. Early action is important to mitigate the impacts seen on nature and agriculture and preserve public water supplies in case of a hot dry summer. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

England faces drought this summer as reservoir water levels dwindle

Exclusive: Government and water firms preparing for possible shortages as dry weather is expected to continue

No hosepipe ban in 2025 for Midlands, says Severn Trent

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Alastair Chisholm @alastairchisholm.bsky.social · May 6

Severn Trent water say they won't be putting on a hosepipe ban this year. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The water firm says there are no plans for a ban despite the increasingly warm weather.

www.bbc.co.uk

Alastair Chisholm @alastairchisholm.bsky.social · May 6

Will there be drought this year and if so, what lessons from 2022 were learned?
It's certainly dry so far this year compared to many previous drought years.
We'll likely need 2012-esque wet early summer to pull back from the brink.
📢Blog / position here: www.ciwem.org/news/managin...

Alastair Chisholm @alastairchisholm.bsky.social · May 2

It’s utter lunacy.

Nature & green access aside, how can on one hand govt confirm raised ambition for heat pumps & solar then on the other light a fire under the urban heat island effect?

The same week its statutory climate advisers warn its progress on climate adaptation is beyond useless…

George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · May 1

It just gets worse and worse. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Planning bill could allow developers to build without replacing local nature

Green spaces created to offset removal of others may not have to be in same county, sources at Defra say

Records break for hottest start to May in Wales

Alastair Chisholm @alastairchisholm.bsky.social · May 2

Wales has had 30% less rainfall than this point in 2022. In extreme dry conditions, areas with surface water reservoir storage feel the pinch most quickly.

Welsh water starting to encourage people to use less. Expect this kind of messaging to spread.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The new record for 1 May in Wales has seen temperatures 10 degrees above average.

www.bbc.co.uk

Government can’t hide behind Tories on lack of climate adaptation action - CIWEM

Alastair Chisholm @alastairchisholm.bsky.social · May 1

Govt has some oven-ready wins to address failings identified in yesterday's @thecccuk.bsky.social climate progress report.

In fact the last Labour government set them up.

Whilst Labour loves to point to past Tory water failures, it also needs to get on and act.
www.ciwem.org/news/governm...

CIWEM policy director Alastair Chisholm says the government has easy opportunities to demonstrate its climate adaptation credentials.

www.ciwem.org

Alastair Chisholm @alastairchisholm.bsky.social · May 1

3) New reservoirs won't come on stream for many years.

Government really needs to urgently bring forward water efficiency measures like product labelling and building regulations alongside new infrastructure and leakage reduction.

These things are pretty much oven-ready.

Alastair Chisholm @alastairchisholm.bsky.social · May 1

2) In 2022 it was only really July that saw rainfall anomalies approaching as outrageously extreme as this March's. The heat then led to big spikes in demand which exacerbated things. This April's is likely to be pretty dry too.
www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/cli...

Hosepipe bans loom after dry spring and mini heatwave

Alastair Chisholm @alastairchisholm.bsky.social · May 1

1) This spring feels not dissimilar to 2022 when we last had drought and heatwaves. Except it's arguably drier. Whether we see drought measures later in the year depends on the next couple of months.
inews.co.uk/news/summer-...

Those who do not follow a hosepipe ban can be prosecuted through criminal courts and fined up to £1,000

inews.co.uk

Alastair Chisholm @alastairchisholm.bsky.social · Apr 30

4) It must be hoped that the Water Commission has the wisdom to recognise these climate-water sector nexus issues & that Govt is waiting for this endorsement to move. @richardbenwell.bsky.social.

Measures like Managing Rainwater Where it Falls could be a great start.
www.ewsc.org.uk/project-repo...

Alastair Chisholm @alastairchisholm.bsky.social · Apr 30

3) The Code for Sustainable Homes was a Labour initiative. This govt is seemingly indifferent to its impressive water efficiency drivers.

Whatever the Tory inheritance this Govt should now be moving forward these common sense measures. But seemingly short term growth trumps all.

Alastair Chisholm @alastairchisholm.bsky.social · Apr 30

2) The Climate Change Act 2008 was a Labour Act orchestrated by Ed Miliband. Yet govt is seemingly indifferent to its adaptation side. The Flood & Water Management Act 2010 was Labour Act. Govt is seemingly indifferent to its Schedule 3 on drainage.

Government warned it is setting country up for 'disaster' unless it better prepares UK for heavy flooding and intense heat

Alastair Chisholm @alastairchisholm.bsky.social · Apr 30

1) Latest climate report "blistering" says
@seabrookclimate.bsky.social. Govt is keen to blame state of flood defences, water infrastructure etc on Tories. But it is feet-dragging/ backsliding on key flood/ drought resilience policies Tories were planning. news.sky.com/story/govern...

After deadly flooding in Valencia and fierce LA wildfires, climate advisers in the UK have issued a stark warning the country is unprepared to cope with a hotter world.

news.sky.com

File on 4 Investigates - Hell and High Water: Are we ready for the floods? - BBC Sounds

Alastair Chisholm @alastairchisholm.bsky.social · Apr 29

2) Sustainable drainage is one part of that resilience jigsaw. Recognised back in 2007 & beyond, legislated by
@teamlabouruk.bsky.social in 2010 but never implemented. Why @tobyperkinsmp.bsky.social is govt seemingly backsliding on #SuDS? Your committee might wish to probe.
@floodmary.bsky.social

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Alastair Chisholm @alastairchisholm.bsky.social · Apr 29

1) Govt advisors have warned countless times of need to better prepare for floods.
@thecccuk.bsky.social no doubt will imminently
@commonseac.parliament.uk currently investigating
Ministers know what needs to be done but housebuilding seemingly trumps all else - & communities suffer.
t.co/sxrymfXLpY

Is enough being done to protect people from flooding?

www.bbc.co.uk

Labour’s great nature sellout is the worst attack on England’s ecosystems I’ve seen in my lifetime | George Monbiot

Reposted by Alastair Chisholm

George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · Apr 24

It's hard to get your head around the scale of the environmental vandalism the Labour government is hoping to unleash. The Planning and Infrastructure Bill is up there with Trump's executive orders. And the reason is the same: corporate power.
This week's column.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The horrifying planning bill, which rips up environmental protections, was drafted with CEOs in mind. We know because Keir Starmer told us, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot