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The Guardian
19-05-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Citizen testing reveals phosphate ‘crisis' in English and Welsh rivers
Citizen testing of rivers in England and Wales by anglers reveals that more than a third of freshwater sites breach phosphate levels for good ecological status. Volunteers from angling groups are using the data to try to drive change in the way rivers are treated – but the task ahead is huge, according to the Angling Trust and Fish Legal. 'Our freshwater habitats are in crisis – a fact now widely recognised by the public, politicians and regulators,' the chief executive, Jamie Cook, said. 'Many anglers already knew this, having witnessed the decline in water quality at our favourite fishing spots. 'This report sheds further light on the dire state of our rivers and shows how anglers are using data to deepen our understanding of water pollution – and to influence the future of river management when recognised as legitimate stakeholders in decision-making processes.' The report analysed about 4,000 samples collected by volunteers in the network between July 2023 and July 2024. They measured nitrate, phosphate, ammonia, electrical conductivity, temperature and turbidity on 76 catchments, along with visual observations and photographs. Only 16% of English rivers are considered to be in good ecological status, with phosphate levels at an upper limit of 0.306ppm. The report reveals almost 34% of samples collected by angling volunteers breached that upper limit. Nitrate levels have no upper limit but Angling Trust volunteers were given independent guidance that nitrate concentrations of 5ppm or more were excessive in a freshwater habitat. This level was exceeded in 45% of samples collected. The pollution is not evenly spread, the report reveals. In the Medway catchment, which is mostly in south-east England, including Kent, Surrey and East Sussex, 100% of site averages – based on eight or more samples in the year – failed to meet good ecological status as defined by the water framework directive, which is part of English law. In the Avon catchment in Warwickshire, 86% of phosphate site averages failed to meet good ecological status. Anglers are calling on the government and water companies to improve water quality. Alex Farquhar, the campaigns and advocacy officer at the Angling Trust, said: 'This report paints a picture of the continued ill health of our rivers and the systemic failure to make the rapid shifts in governance needed to bring them back to life. Listening to citizen science initiatives like this one is essential to this process.' The extent of pollution still affecting English rivers was revealed as Labour MPs refused to consider adding extra protections for chalk streams, which would designate them as irreplaceable habitats in the planning and infrastructure bill – designed to drive Labour's target of 1.5 million houses and grow infrastructure delivery across the country. All Labour members examining the draft law rejected an amendment containing the extra provision. Sign up to Down to Earth The planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential after newsletter promotion Anglers from the rivers Test and Itchen, two world-renowned chalk streams in Hampshire, used the data gathered over 12 months to expose how Southern Water was contributing to polluting the waterways. They protested with others over sewage dumping from the Fullerton wastewater treatment works. After the demonstration Southern Water increased the capacity of the treatment works, drastically reducing sewage spills. Anglers from the Royal Tunbridge Wells Angling Society, on the Medway, monitored 15 sites and collected 279 samples, which were analysed by the independent researchers Dr Eleanor Kean and Dr Liz Bagshaw, at the University of Bristol. Every sample breached the upper limit for good ecological status (GES) due to high phosphate levels. The anglers put pressure on the Environment Agency to create a joint monitoring group that exposed how more than 90% of pollution problems were from direct outputs and outflows from wastewater treatment works and combined sewer overflows, which were the responsibility of Southern Water. In Warwickshire, more than 50 anglers took part in the monitoring. Their sampling showed 86.4% of sites regularly tested in 2023-24 had average phosphate readings breaching good ecological status – significantly higher than the national average. Andy Hammerton, a Water Quality Monitoring Network volunteer with the Girling Angling Society, said: 'While our efforts to force the water companies and Environment Agency to improve may be perceived by some to be too little too late … my hope is that by applying the pressure now, my grandchildren will benefit from a clean and safe natural river environment where wildlife and fish will once again flourish.'
BBC News
14-05-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Exceptionally low river levels forecast in parts of the UK
The UK's rivers are forecast to hit exceptionally low levels in some parts of the country in the next three months, according to the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH), raising questions over supplies to households, farmers and warning comes after the driest spring in England since 1961, with northern regions experiencing the driest start to the year in nearly a all of the UK is expected to have below normal river levels in May, apart the south-west of Environment Agency has said that the UK is at medium risk of drought and warned households of the risk of water restrictions. The next 2-3 weeks will be "crucial" in determining if drought will happen, says Mark Owen, head of fisheries for the Angling Trust and a member of the National Drought is the group led by the government that can declare if drought is officially country is not now in drought, but the impacts of the exceptionally dry weather are already being felt. Some farmers are being forced to water their crops instead of relying on rainfall, which is something that normally happens later in the year."We are having a drought now from an agricultural point of view," arable farmer Nick Deane told BBC News from his farm in had to start irrigating his fields in March."We have to ration our water and decide which areas we are going to put that water on in order to keep the crops growing," he warned that an extremely long drought would mean farmers struggle to produce food and more produce would need to be dry and sunny weather this year has led to a larger area of the UK burned by wildfires this year compared to in any other entire year. The last drought was in June-August 2022, which was the joint hottest summer (with 2018) and fifth driest since the 1890s. Five companies introduced hosepipe bans, affecting 19 million people, and waterways had restricted drought was preceded by six months of very dry weather. However, the wet summer in 2024 and moderately-wet winter means water supplies are in a better place now and water companies have larger reserves to rely dry weather earlier in the year has risks. It does "potentially pose a greater risk to water resources later on in the year, particularly if the dry weather continues," says Stephen Turner, hydrologist at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. Last week, Richard Thompson, chair of the National Drought Group, warned that water companies may need to bring in water restrictions to protect supplies if the dry weather the moment the key questions are when will it next rain and when it does, how much will there be. There are some signs that some rain is on the horizon, with unsettled weather from the west at the end of next week. Drinking water comes from different places depending on the geography and geology of speaking, the south of England takes a long time to get into drought but a long time to leave. That's because a lot of rainfall is stored in rocks underground and takes a long time to reach rivers and water contrast, the north of England quickly enters drought and quickly gets out because reservoirs are more heavily used for water Companies introduce hosepipe bins when water supplies reach a certain low in their drought conditions become severe, the government can restrict irrigation of farms, reduce boats' movement on waterways, and limit water available to non-essential businesses like car washes. In an extreme scenario, it could ration the amount of water available to homes and businesses but that has not happened since 1976. Water industry bosses and the National Farmers' Union (NFU) are calling on the government to do more to ensure the driest parts of the UK have secure water supplies in the face of any future UK, which represents the water industry, is calling for a new national water grid of pipes, canals and reservoirs to be set up in England to move water from the wettest regions to where it is most farmers say they need more government funding and less planning red tape to build their own reservoirs to supply their farms. Mr Deane came together with five other farmers, including fruit growers, to build their own reservoir. It took four years and cost more than £ has proved vital, they say, with 15% of the stored water already used this year in the dry conditions. But the group said obtaining planning permission was costly and difficult.A government spokesman said it was working with the agricultural sector to improve its water supply resilience and establish more groups of farmers who could work together to develop their own added: "Over £104bn of private sector investment has been secured to fund essential infrastructure, including nine new reservoirs, to help secure our future water supply for farmers." Are the dry conditions linked to climate change? The prolonged dry weather is linked to what are called "blocking highs" when a high pressure weather system becomes do not know if this blocked pattern is linked to climate change. Global warming is expected to cause more extreme weather events about our future climate suggest more and longer periods of dry weather as well as periods of less rainfall in the UK. Winters are likely to be wetter and could exacerbate other forms of drought like hydrological or agricultural drought, according to the Met Office.
BBC News
27-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Seahaven fishing initiative to help prevent youth crime
A competitive angler and a former councillor have teamed up to create a fishing group for young people in the Seahaven area to help prevent Macleod, a former Lewes district councillor, said the idea came to him when he used fishing as a way to cope in his own life."I was really struggling with my mental health when my mother went into hospital," he said."As a way to relieve stress, I decided to go fishing at a beach and I found it very therapeutic." Mr Macleod said fishing encouraged mindfulness and he began to think how to promote the idea to young people in the says some young people in the area are involved in crime including anti-social behaviour, cuckooing, drugs and knife crime."The fishing group will not only teach young people fishing skills, but it's to engage them in a project or hobby where they can meet and socialise," he added."We want to show them there are different avenues to take and hopefully encourage them to appreciate their community more." Joanne Barlow, owner of Bait Bucket in Newhaven, says fishing is the "epitome" of Barlow, who was the 2018 and 2019 Ladies Pairs British Carp Cup Champion, added: "A lot of people think it's an expensive activity but it's not and it's an easy sport."She says fishing comes with many benefits."It encourages young people to be outdoors rather than spending too much time looking at screens," she added. 'Pathways for young people' "You can enjoy the immediate surroundings and if you catch a fish, you can share the joyful moment with your friends."Ms Barlow, who is also a fishing coach accredited by the Angling Trust, said the project aimed to provide young people with a skills pathway, as well as knowledge of different marine animals, which may open up career said at the moment 10 volunteers were involved in the project. "We are running the project by Angling Trust guidelines, therefore the fishing training we provide is accredited and we can carry out safety assessments in fishing areas where we plan our fishing groups," she added.
BBC News
04-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Chicken farm plans called a 'danger' to River Kennet in Newbury
There have been calls for plans to almost triple the size of a chicken farm to be rejected over pollution Farm in Newbury, Berkshire, near the River Kennet, is currently home to 12,000 chickens, but the new plans would see that increase to 32, Salter, head of policy at the Angling Trust, said the proposal, lodged with West Berkshire Council, was "utterly unacceptable" and "presents a clear and present danger to the river and the wildlife the river sustains".Developer Harrison Pick Ltd said the proposed new buildings would be better for the environment. Mr Salter, who is also the former Labour MP for Reading West, said: "Chicken manure is highly toxic. "Obviously, if it's spread on the ground or leaks out of these units, and it's bound to given it's actually in the flood plain very close to the river, it mixes with surface water and leaches into the river and into the ground water, it creates a huge phosphate spike." The River Kennet is one of 260 chalk streams in the world, and home to critically endangered species like the European of Harrison Pick Ltd Ian Pick said: "This site has been used for free range hens for the last 20 years. "There's no real change in the use of the site. What we are changing is the style and type of the building."For example, the six buildings that are there now are very old, they've got no floors in them, so all the existing manure generated by the birds in the existing sheds just drops on the floor. "Our new shed is designed to the best available techniques."The volumes of nitrate from a free range egg system are just insignificant."About 55% of land in England is in an Environment Agency nitrate vulnerable zone, including Bradfords Farm. Farmers in these areas must follow special rules to stop run off into Environment Agency said it had commented on the proposals highlighting the environmental sensitivity of the farm's location and seeking more information.A spokesperson said: "Excess nutrients of any kind can be damaging to our rivers. "The controls in the relevant regulations set out how farmers should store and use nutrients to minimise the risk of pollution or environmental harm occurring. "It is an offence to cause or knowingly permit polluting matter to enter any controlled waters." You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
