Tom Freyberg

Sick of sewage and pollution? With the recent change in UK government, there now exists an opportunity to press for a more climate and nature-friendly future. But what can we do? Read this blog and tell the new government to prioritise climate and nature: https://lnkd.in/eYh83h5w #blog #nature #environment

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What a cracking episode this month into the complex issues facing the UK water sector! Great insights into the pressing challenges and priorities facing the industry and the critical need for investment as AMP8 approaches Plus, as a comms professional, there is a fascinating interview with journalist and editor Karma Loveday on the loss of public trust in water companies and the need for improved communication and engagement Dive in! #waterindustry #watersector #amp8 #waterinfrastructure #waterinvestment #watermanagement #comms #communications #publictrust #publicengagement #crisiscommunications

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Gosh, this has to be a great #opportunity for all the #smart, #IoT and #sensor #SMEs in the #LocalGovernment sphere! Funding is available potentially for up to three suppliers via the Innovation Procurement Empowerment Centre (IPEC) and Westminster City Council's #innovation #challenge to find new ways to monitor and reduce PM2.5 emissions from commercial cooking... It's a tightly focused challenge but the solution will be valuable to councils nation-wide. See below for more info and application links / deadlines 👇

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An interesting initiative in the response to climate change - Scotland's Improvement Service has unveiled a data platform for the country's local authorities to share information on their climate action plans. It could prove to be a useful tool in supporting decision making and sharing best practice, and would surely have a use for local authorities in other parts of the UK. https://lnkd.in/ez3dJW6p #localgovernment #scotland #climatechange #netzero

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For those of you so inclined to offer comments on the draft of the U.S.'s first National Nature Assessment, please do so. Honored to be part of the team conducting this assessment. #businessandnature #sustainability #naturalcapital

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Check out these innovative environmental water projects! 🌍💧 💡 Innovation in #WaterManagement is key to building a more resilient & 🌿sustainable future. These 3️⃣ initiatives are leading the way towards a #NetZeroCarbon future: 🚰 South West Water is using a sustainable approach to installing new water pipes on the Isles of Scilly. They're using crushed recycled glass sourced locally, cutting down on the environmental impact of transporting materials from the mainland. This innovative method has already embedded over 800 meters of new water mains, reducing costs 💷 and carbon. Developed with Glanville Environmental it's repurposed around 80 tonnes of glass, showing a practical, #EcoFriendly solution for infrastructure development https://lnkd.in/e7-ZhmdB 🌊💡 NWG (Northumbrian Water Group) is pioneering a project to significantly reduce #StormOverflow spills across Tyneside. Using advanced sensors and #AI analytics inspired by successful US models, this initiative aims to cut spills by 80% over a decade. #SmartSewerTechnology and real-time adjustments will predict ☔️ rainfall, balance flows, and prevent #WastewaterOverflows, ensuring cleaner rivers & seas. Partnering with HydroDigital, LLC Northumbrian Water is setting new standards in #WastewaterManagement. https://lnkd.in/eHte9anq 🌿💧 San Francisco 🇺🇸 leads in #DecentralisedWaterRecycling, pioneering the reuse of wastewater from buildings & homes for non-potable purposes. This innovative approach reduces fresh water demand and addresses #WaterScarcity. The system treats greywater with advanced filtration for reuse in new buildings, enhancing #WaterEfficiency & 💵 cost savings. San Francisco mandates on-site recycling in new buildings over 100,000 sq ft. The Salesforce Tower alone recycles 30,000 gallons daily, marking progress towards full self-sufficient, #WaterNeutral buildings. Decentralised systems localise water use, akin to rooftop solar 🌞 decentralising energy. Epic Cleantec installs systems in high-rises, demonstrating water savings and environmental benefits. As more cities adopt regulations, #RecycledWater will become standard in urban development, offering a resilient solution to water shortages. https://lnkd.in/eREN7d3x 👍🏻 Let's continue to innovate and disrupt the water industry! What's the most innovative development in the water industry you've encountered recently❓ Comment below👇 #FutureOfWater #WaterTech #EcoInnovation Photo Credits: Darren Patterson and Mike Bird

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Every new regulatory period brings plenty of hand-wringing with it, but this time, things feel genuinely different for the #uk #water sector. Battered by years of negative headlines, plagued by poor performance, and rocked by the coma into which Thames Water has been plunged, the sector's investability is very much a live question. Zak Bentley and Kalliope Gourntis gather insight from Colm Gibson of Berkeley Research Group, Yeshvir Singh of Fitch Ratings, Will Price of Macquarie Asset Management, Oleg Shamovsky of Arjun Infrastructure Partners, Lee Mellor of Ancala, Johnathan Owen, CFA of TwentyFour Asset Management LLP, Ofwat and many more. Read it on Infrastructure Investor 👇 https://lnkd.in/dcUa9emB

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 9 Environmental Challenges Facing the UK Wastewater Industry by 2025 The UK wastewater industry is navigating a critical turning point as it faces mounting environmental challenges. Here are the top issues shaping the sector’s future: 🔹 Pollution Control: With only 14% of rivers in England achieving “good” ecological status, companies must tackle pollution head-on to improve environmental outcomes. 🔹 Aging Infrastructure: Aging assets present safety and operational risks, requiring significant investment and modernization. 🔹 Regulatory Scrutiny: Increased oversight highlights the need for better compliance and improved environmental performance. 🔹 Climate Change Adaptation: Flooding and droughts caused by climate change are pressuring wastewater systems to become more resilient. 🔹 Technological Integration: Embracing innovation is critical for improving efficiency and reducing environmental impact. 🔹 Public Trust: Transparency and communication are essential to restoring public confidence. 🔹 Financial Constraints: Balancing infrastructure upgrades with financial pressures remains a major challenge. 🔹 Workforce Development: Building a skilled workforce equipped to meet evolving demands is crucial for success. 🔹 Sustainability Goals: Aligning with national and global targets requires focused strategic action. What steps do you think are most critical for the industry to meet these challenges? Let’s start a conversation! Read the full article for deeper insights: https://lnkd.in/errN4Jg5 #Wastewater #EnvironmentalChallenges #Sustainability #UKWaterIndustry

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It is great that the #UK Labour Party is committing to make up for the lost climate goal ground under the conservatives. 💪🏻 Carbon Brief has put together an excellent program. However, it is imperative that site abandonment, remediation, and reclamation of the #NorthSea well, pipeline, and facility sites be a PRIMARY goal to achieve a successful transition. We know we have leakage and sites that are producing when they need not be. Let’s see the oil and gas industries 2050 phase out plans in step with the Paris Agreement! 🙏🏻🤝 #ukpoli #worldpoli #cdnpoli #uspoli

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"A major review into Britain’s water system, including its future resilience and the impact of agricultural sector on the waterways has also been commissioned and is due to report next year, when more legislation is expected to be published." I hope it doesn't pull any punches or waste time covering ground well trodden. We need EA and NE to be given more budget and more enforcement resource as a starter. If The Labour Party could deliver the actions in the #WyeManifesto that would be great: https://lnkd.in/e6FR7xfN https://lnkd.in/eUPDfsPS

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“Customers have enjoyed the benefits of less investment…” says Water UK’s David Henderson on BBC Radio 4 Today programme, 8.25am, 8/10/24. I get his point and, to be fair, the full quote is below, but customers did not want lower water bills at the expense of rivers and seas being more polluted, and wildlife diminished. The stand-off over the size of water bills between water and sewerage companies and the government’s regulators is not helping. On the one hand companies have treated water bill payers as cash machines. On the other, Ofwat, the government’s economic regulator, has been environmentally-clueless. The government's obsession with deregulation and cutting its Environment Agency doesn't help. We’re constantly given the false choice of either low bills and more polluted and nature-depleted waters, or higher bills with perhaps a little less pollution, and nature in better condition at some vague point in the future...maybe. Here’s Henderson’s reply to Amol Rajan’s question about customers having to pay more now to make up for past failures to invest in fixing water pipes, upgrading creaky sewage plants etc: “Well, I’m afraid you’re right. It’s either the state pays or the customers pay. Customers have enjoyed the benefits of less investment than we think has been needed over the last fifteen or so years. “That’s why bills are about 20 per cent lower than if they had merely risen with inflation. So, now we have to play catch up, and unfortunately, because we are investing now and not ten years ago, interest rates are much higher so the costs is going to be greater…” Aside from blame games between Ofwat and Water UK, Mr Henderson didn’t get to say that some companies admit NOT investing enough in the past even within bill levels Ofwat set.

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We've all seen the news about some of our favourite holiday hotspots experiencing water shortages. It's the same story in the UK - it just hasn't reached 'Day Zero' yet....although some places, like Cambridge are at risk of running 'dry'. According to the Environment Agency, this is now as little as 15 years away, but there are some simple steps we can all try and take 👇🏼 #water #waterconservation #WaterScarcity #WaterTech #ClimateSolutions

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Veolia UK has donated Fruit Tress to 300+ schools across the UK 🤗 Not only does this initiative naturally have myriad positive impacts for the immediate & extended environment (i.e. improving air quality); it also encourages children to become more aware of their own connection to nature, fostering increased reverence for all things "green". Children are the future. Positively articulating in their impressionable minds the importance of improved biodiversity (and the principles of self-sufficiency and provision - i.e. harvesting fruit) etc... is key to raising a generation of conscious, caring individuals - who regard our planet as one worth respecting. Children are our future decision-makers and custodians of Earth. So great to work for a company that invests in such initiatives. 👏 https://lnkd.in/gnjDTpSb

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🌍 Exciting News! 🌍 I've just published a new blog on the Water for Good website, and I'd love for you to check it out! 💧✨ The blog delves into the importance of a maintenance approach for sustainability in water projects. Your feedback is incredibly valuable, so please read the blog and share your thoughts in the comments section. #Sustainability #WaterForGood #MaintenanceApproach https://lnkd.in/ec9Tafg4

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New research shows how leading water utilities are accelerating decarbonisation https://lnkd.in/eWRZnx2y

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Here’s how to enter our Photography Competition 2024

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