Second-largest population increase in England and Wales in over 75 years - mainly fuelled by migration

Govt: Water system is broken

The system for regulating water companies should be overhauled and replaced with one body for England and one body for Wales, a landmark review of the sector has advised. The much-anticipated report from the Independent Water Commission, led by former Bank of England deputy governor Sir Jon Cunliffe, outlines 88 recommendations to the UK and Welsh governments. Water minister Emma Hardy says she cannot guarantee the government will implement all 88 recommendations. Report by Gluszczykm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Ofwat "failed everybody", says Environment Secretary

Environment Secretary Steve Reed says the water regulator Ofwat has “clearly failed everybody,” citing record pollution levels and rising bills. Reed said the government is committed to halving sewage discharges into England and Wales’ waterways by 2030. He called for “a revolution in our water sector” and said a report from Sir John Cunliffe will guide urgent regulatory reform. Report by Etemadil. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Japan Builds Ocean Earthquake Shield As U.S. Risks Disaster With Blind Spot On Cascadia Fault

Japan has completed the world’s most advanced undersea earthquake and tsunami detection system—3,500+ miles of fiber-optic cables linking 186 observatories across the ocean floor. It’s designed to warn citizens and infrastructure minutes ahead of massive quakes and tsunamis, a leap forward after the devastating 2011 disaster. The newly completed S-net and N-net networks allow near-instant detection of seismic activity along entire subduction zones. Meanwhile, Cardiff University in Wales has adapted nuclear explosion detectors to spot tsunamis faster than ever. But experts warn that the U.S. remains woefully behind—especially on the Pacific Northwest’s Cascadia megathrust fault. With just one cable and three sensors, the U.S. could face catastrophic consequences from a future magnitude 9.0 quake. Japan’s model could be the blueprint the rest of the world urgently needs. #Japan #Earthquake #Tsunami #SeafloorSensors #FiberOpticCables #CascadiaFault #SeismicNetwork #NaturalDisasters #TectonicPlates #QuakeWarning #Snet #Nnet #CardiffUniversity #Hydrophones #AISeismology #USvsJapan #TsunamiRisk #SlowSlip #GeologicalHazard #DisasterPreparedness