water matters

Most people assume once wastewater is treated, the job is done, but nitrogen and phosphorus left behind can still cause serious harm downstream.
In Part 2 of this Water Matters special, host Noonie sits down again with GRAF scientist Danielle to unpack nutrient removal, one of the biggest topics in UK wastewater treatment right now. They cover how ammonia and nitrate are converted through biological processes, why phosphorus is often the harder nutrient to manage, and what happens when nitrogen and phosphorus aren't properly removed, including algal blooms, oxygen depletion and toxic effects on aquatic life. 

Ever wondered what actually happens to your wastewater once it leaves your home?
In this episode of Water Matters, host Noonie sits down with Danielle, a scientist at GRAF UK, specialising in biological wastewater treatment and nutrient removal, to break down one of the biggest misconceptions in the industry: wastewater treatment isn't a chemical or mechanical process, it's almost entirely biological.
This is part one of a two-part series diving into biological wastewater treatment.

Wondering why your water company has banned hosepipes again this summer, and what you're actually still allowed to do?
 
In this episode of the Water Matters podcast, Matt sits down with Callum from GRAF UK to break down exactly what a hosepipe ban is, why water companies bring them in, and how much water a hosepipe really uses compared to a watering can or bucket.
 
Head to watermatters.life to find out more on Hosepipe bans and solutions to help your garden stay healthy!

The UK has ambitious housing targets. It also has wastewater infrastructure that was designed for a fraction of today's population. Those two things are on a collision course — and the planning decisions made right now will shape the health of our rivers, communities and environment for the next 50 to 100 years.
In this episode, host Jake sits down with Noonie from the GRAF technical team to explore why wastewater has become one of the most important and often overlooked issues in modern housing development. 
Whether you're working in construction, planning, engineering or sustainability, this conversation cuts through the complexity and explains what needs to change — and what's already starting to.
For more on water, sustainability and the issues shaping the future, visit us at watermatters.life and subscribe to our free Water Wednesdays newsletter for the latest stories and developments across the water sector.

In this episode of Water Matters, Matt is joined by Tim Smedley to explore some of the world's most fascinating rainwater harvesting ideas.
Inspired by viral AI-generated images that turned out to be fake, they uncover the real innovations being used across the globe—from vertical forests in Italy and musical drainpipes in Germany to desert restoration projects in Africa and sponge streets in the UK.
Visit watermattters.life to find out more on rainwater harvesting systems around the world!

In this special mid-year edition of Water Matters, Matt reflects on the biggest water stories shaping the UK in 2026 so far. From water security and infrastructure investment to sewage pollution, climate adaptation, and nature-based solutions, this episode takes stock of where we are today and what to watch in the months ahead.

Thinking about finding your nearest refill store? Visit refilluk.org.uk to find refill shops and water top-up stations across the country, or find Nothing But Footprints at nothingbutfootprints.co.uk.
Most of us generate around 420 kilos of packaging waste every year — and a lot of it ends up somewhere it was never supposed to be.
In this episode, host Jake visits Nothing But Footprints, a refill store in the UK, and sits down with owner Dan to find out how packaging-free shopping actually works. From washing up liquid and cereals to toothpaste tablets and compostable sponges, Dan walks through what a refill store stocks, how to use one as a first-time customer, and why he started the whole thing after a diving trip in Southeast Asia left him staring at a mattress floating 50km out at sea in a protected marine park.
For more on water, sustainability and the issues shaping our future, visit us at watermatters.life

Water is the issue hiding in plain sight — affecting floods, food, health, wildlife, housing and the cost of living, and yet most people only think about it when something goes wrong.
This episode is a short introduction to the Water Matters podcast and what it's all about. Host Matthew Rolph explains why the platform exists, what topics it covers, and why water is one of the defining challenges of the coming decades. Whether you've just discovered the channel or want to understand what Water Matters is really trying to do, this is the place to start.
You'll also hear about the Water Wednesdays newsletter and the annual Water Matters Yearbook, both designed to help people stay informed on one of the most important topics of our time.
Thinking about exploring the world of water? Visit us at watermatters.life 

You've probably seen the headlines, but how did the UK sewage scandal actually happen, and why has it taken this long to become front page news?
In this episode of the Water Matters podcast, Matt is joined by Tim Smedley, author of The Last Drop, to dig into Channel 4's Dirty Business, the three-part docu-drama that brought the UK's sewage crisis to a mainstream audience. They trace how campaigners Ash Smith and Peter Hammond first uncovered illegal sewage releases into the River Windrush, how the introduction of event duration monitors finally made the scale of the problem impossible to ignore, and why water companies were able to discharge untreated sewage into rivers and seas for so long without consequence.
Thinking about the state of the UK's water system? Read Tim's blog and join the conversation at watermatters.life

In this episode of Water Matters, Matt is joined by Tim Smedley to unpack a major new report introducing the concept of “water bankruptcy” — a shift from short-term water crises to long-term, irreversible loss of water systems.
They explore what this means in practice, from disappearing lakes and overused aquifers to the potential knock-on effects on food supply and global markets. The conversation also looks at whether we’re already seeing early signs of this in parts of the world — and what can still be done to change course.