water

Water discovery could change the nature of future Mars exploration

The claim that flowing water has been discovered on Mars could undoubtedly enhance knowledge of the Red Planet, a scientist from Plymouth University has said.

But it could also make future exploration of the planet more difficult because of restrictions designed to prevent the contamination of any potential biological material or ecosystem on Mars, or anywhere throughout the solar...

Boat ownership, female participation and canoeing on the rise in SW

According to new research 378,000 adults in the South West (12.0% of the local population) took to water by one or more of 12 boating activities1 in 2014. This reflects an increase of 2.3% in the number of participants from 2013 (9.7%).

Whilst in the region, participation in any watersports activity in addition to the 12 core boating activities2 stands just over 1.1 million (35.6% of...

Antibiotic risk for coastal water users

Recreational users of coastal waters such as swimmers and surfers are at risk of exposure to antibiotic resistant bacteria, according to new research published this week.

In the first study of its kind, scientists at the University of Exeter Medical School have assessed the amount of water ingested during different water sports, and combined this with water sampling data to estimate...

Don't put public water supply at risk

South West Water is urging customers not to steal water from its public supply network or they could run the risk of prosecution. A standpipe hire service is available instead.

The advice follows the prosecution of several businesses earlier this year:

Keily Bros Ltd, a road surfacing company from Birmingham, contravened the Water Industry Act 1991 section 174 after using an...

New flood maps show fewer people "at risk"

New flood maps issued by the environment agency show that less people in Devon and around England are now being classed as ‘at risk’ of flooding.

The maps, from the Environment Agency, show areas of the country at risk of flooding from rivers and the sea and help communities and businesses protect their properties from flooding.

The new maps, as well as providing a vital...

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