WRc Group’s Post

Ending the week on a high! This morning, our Chief Executive Allan Prangnell Prangnell delivered a dynamic keynote presentation on our efforts to prepare New Zealand's first ever wastewater environmental performance standards – a game changer for our country. Here are some key takeaways: 🔍 We are working with the sector and industry experts to design the standards, set to launch in 2025. Our goal is to ensure they are robust and appropriately calibrated to New Zealand’s unique needs. 📅 In March next year, we plan to publish cost estimates and begin consulting on draft standards. 💧 Priority areas covered will include: Discharge of treated wastewater to water - Beneficial reuse of biosolids to land - Discharge of treated wastewater to land. Did you know that 74% of the population is connected to a wastewater treatment plant that discharges to the ocean? We’ll all be hearing much more about wastewater standards in the months to come! A huge thank you to the Water New Zealand team for hosting another jam-packed and inspirational conference. #WaterNewZealand #WastewaterStandards #SafeWater

An summary of Ireland's urban wastewater treatment in 2023 is given in the Urban Wastewater Treatment report. It draws attention to the top concerns that Uisce Éireann needs to take care of in order to safeguard the ecosystem from the damaging impacts of wastewater discharges. Since the start of 2023, the number of towns and villages discharging raw sewage on a daily basis has decreased from 29 to 16. Learn more about the Urban Wastewater Treatment: https://lnkd.in/e5e_DtDi Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Ireland #urbanwastewater #watertreatment #ecosystem

🚨 Ontario's Latest Excess Soil Regulation Amendments: What You Need to Know 🚨 The Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks has introduced significant amendments to the Excess Soil Regulation under the Environmental Protection Act. These changes, effective immediately as of April 23, 2024, aim to clarify regulatory requirements and encourage greater reuse of excess soil across Ontario. 💡 Key Highlights: - Expanded exemptions for certain soil management sites - Increased reuse opportunities for salt-impacted soil - Clarifications on hauling record requirements and exemptions - New protocols for soil storage near waterbodies Discover how these amendments impact your business and ensure compliance with the latest regulations. 🔗 Get the full article here! https://lnkd.in/e5vqatVg Stay informed and protect your operations with our detailed analysis and expert insights. #OHSInsider #OntarioRegulations #EnvironmentalCompliance #ExcessSoil #SoilManagement #Sustainability #EnvironmentalProtection #ComplianceUpdates #SafetyNow

WATER IN NUMBERS | The top 25 US water systems by 20-year investment needs 💧 An analysis of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s recent Drinking Water (2023) and Clean Watershed Needs Surveys (2024) undertaken by GWI has highlighted the water and wastewater agencies grappling with the most sizable 20-year investment needs across the US. Access the full list here: https://lnkd.in/equwrASj #Water #WasteWater #WaterTreatment

Earlier this month, we saw the Environmental Audit Committee hold an evidence session on 'water quality and water infrastructure: follow up.' This examined progress since the committee's initial inquiry in 2021. I submitted evidence to the inquiry on behalf of Windrush Against Sewage Pollution (WASP), sharing insights from my efforts to obtain water quality data according to the 2004 Environmental Information Regulations (EIRs). I cannot speak for water companies’ EIR processes at the time of the initial inquiry, but if my experiences can be described as ‘progress,’ then it is clear that there is a long way to go to achieve transparency over their impact on water quality. The lack of consistency in the application of the EIRs by each of the privatised water companies is shocking, as detailed in the document submitted to the EAC. From month-long email response waits to a baffling array of approaches to data formatting, water companies are anything but transparent. In the run up to the general election, watch this space. The sewage pollution scandal has become an issue for many voters and we need to see more concrete proposals for reforms from all political parties if they hope to receive our votes.

Digital infrastructure and the requisite cybersecurity associated must be included in these programs. Critical infrastructure requires an upgrade into the current times and the resources to support that digital transformation. #digitalwater#watersecurity#ruralwater

The 2024 Land Use, Environmental, & Natural Resources Update is now available. This year's Update covers important topics, such as California's housing legislation and the new federal PFAS drinking water standards. Stay informed and read the full report here: https://hubs.li/Q02ycrGJ0 #EnvironmentalLaw #Housing #PFAS #LandUse

#worldwaterday 💧 the theme is ‚Water for Peace‘. This is also at the heart of #EU4Environment Water and Data Programme, which for example strengthens the transboundary collaboration between 🇲🇩, 🇷🇴 & 🇺🇦 on the Prut river basin. This was also part of the discussions on March 20, 2024, in Moldova, when EU and the Republic of Moldova reviewed the progress and aligned priorities in the water sector. Chaired by the General State Secretary of Environment of the Republic of Moldova, the dialogue built upon the institutional reforms in water management and key findings from the Ministry’s stock-take report on the implementation and approximation of the national legislation, including recent updates to the Water Law, and further implementation of the Nitrate Directive. Speaking on behalf of the Programme’s implementing partners, Alexander Zinke, Umweltbundesamt - Environment Agency Austria, recognised the value of Moldovan stakeholders’ and the Government’s commitment to tackle water, climate and environmental challenges: “Moldova’s water resources clearly require better protection and more sustainable use. This EU funded programme #EU4Environment Water and Data helps in strengthening the country’s capacities in river basin planning, monitoring and sustainable water use, as well as in collecting and publishing further data on land use, waste and air pollution. Progress in transboundary cooperation with Ukraine and Romania has been particularly pleasing since the last NPD in 2023. In light of the EU accession negotiations, we also witness accelerated progress and attention on the water and environmental sectors, and preparation of a multi-thematic Republic of Moldova space for the European State-of-the-Environment Report 2025 of the European Environment Agency.” 👉 https://lnkd.in/dAuzSqvA International Office for Water OECD - OCDE United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

What is the cost for clean water in the US? According to the latest survey released by the EPA, the US will need at least $630 Billion over the next 20 years for wastewater and stormwater. Compared to the price of not having clean water, having clean water is priceless. But as the old saying goes, an once of prevention is worth a pound of cure. What can we do to help stop pollution in the first place?

“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a new report detailing investments to modernize and maintain wastewater and stormwater infrastructure nationwide. According to the Clean Watersheds Needs Survey, the U.S. will need at least $630 billion over the next 20 years to safeguard water quality and ensure compliance with the Clean Water Act.” This is the 17th edition of the survey since the inception of the Clean Water Act. It aims to guide policymakers and includes technical data from over 17,000 publicly owned treatment works as of January 2022. The survey is an estimate of needs based on information collected from communities to identify future capital costs.