CATCH held their Environmental Managers Network on Wednesday 8^th October via Teams. The group chair, Martin Jones, HSEQI Manager at Prax Lindsey Oil Refinery, welcomed over 30 delegates to the meeting and introductions were made.

Martinbegan the meeting by honouring the memory of Dr Tony Edwards, who sadly passed away recently. Tony was not only chair of the CATCH Environmental Managers Network for many years, but also an active director of Humber Nature Partnership and regularly lectured at University of Hull. Tony will be missed by all who knew him.

Martin introduced Colin Robinson, Business Manager UK & Ireland, from Evides Industriewater, who gave a presentation on Industrial Wastewater Treatment & the Environment. Colin shone a spotlight on our low carbon future, which will also be a high nitrogen one. Colin described the 3 different causes of N2O production in Denitrification processes and then explained how climate change could have an impact on water quality, a result of warmer, wetter winters. Industrial sites might see bio-fouling requiring more maintenance, reduced effectiveness of water cooled systems, lower water treatment recovery rates or temporary limits introduced for water abstraction. Colin advised that water should be on your risk register with plans in place for coping with seasonal variation. Sites would benefit from knowing their water balance and mass balance for key pollutants – buddying up with neighbouring sites for treatment and supply may also mitigate impacts.

After a break, Matthew Woolin from the Environment Agency gave a presentation on Regulation for Climate Change Adaptation. Matthew laid out the EA’s expectations & objectives for EPR and COMAH sites including undertaking a site-specific climate change risk assessment and preparing and regularly reviewing an adaptation plan. Guidance is available here:

Develop a management system: environmental permits – GOV.UK

Adapting to climate change: industry sector examples for your risk assessment – GOV.UK

Climate impacts tool: guidance for Environment Agency staff

The EA aims to help industry adapt to climate change whilst remaining compliant with their permits and operating a successful business. COMAH sites will have received information from the EA in May explaining the intervention priorities for 2025/26.

Company updates included the following announcements:

Uniper were pleased to announce they have submitted their planning application for a Humber Green Hydrogen Hub project in Immingham, more details here https://www.uniper.energy/united-kingdom/news/uniper-submits-planning-application-for-humber-h2ub-green-hydrogen-production-facility/

Humber Nature Partnership are now taking registrations for their Annual Conference on 13 November at Hull Guildhall. Details can be found https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-humber-conference-tickets-1780454720999?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

The CATCH Conference Centre is now closed for expansion and renovation and is due to be open again in early spring. Networks and events will continue to run as normal with members hosting as far as possible.  CATCH facilitate a series of industry led network groups for members, more details can be found at https://catchuk.org/catch-networks/

The next Environmental Managers Network will be held on Wednesday 4^th March 2026.