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Month: May 2024

TV quiz show host questions river health ahead of Oxford Eights and Clean Rivers Festival

Posted on by lewis

TV quiz show host Alexander Armstrong this week teamed up with River Action to conduct water quality testing on the River Thames.

The talented comedian and broadcaster, known to many for his work on BBC’s Pointless, tried his hand at water quality testing to mark the start of this weekend’s four-day Oxford eights rowing regatta and the city’s Clean Rivers Festival.

Mr Armstrong said, “There are few things that upset and infuriate me more than our seeming inability to do anything to improve our benighted waterways. It’s the most shameful failure of our age. Thank goodness the clamour is being raised but when will meaningful action be taken? We must none of us stop clamouring until it is.”

To help inform and keep rowers safer in the water at this year’s Oxford Eights, River Action, Earthwatch and local community members conducted regular water testing on the stretch of the river used for the regatta. This took place between 1st May and 17th.

Using a World Health Organization verified E.Coli analyser, the test results showed that on average the water contained 340 E.Coli colony forming units (CFU) per 100ml of water. This peaked at 952 CFU, which is over the level the Environment Agency grades designated bathing waters as poor, the bottom of four categories. When bathing water is graded ‘poor’ the Government’s advice is against bathing.

Chloe Peck from River Action said, “These are not the most alarming readings we have ever taken but they do still show levels of E.coli in the water indicating that the river is not healthy and may not be safe to swim in. It is important to remember that river pollution ebbs and flows and ideally, we would monitor water quality throughout the year to help river users keep safe and track river health.

“For the safety of river users everywhere, rowers, communities and conservationists are uniting to ask the Government to enforce the law and to prosecute polluters. River Action wants water companies to honour their commitments to the regulators and bill payers by investing in their infrastructure and stop dumping sewage. Everyone should be able to enjoy our rivers and seas without risking their health, but we fear that without urgent action someone could get seriously ill or even die.”

‘Guidance on rowing when water quality is poor’

Rowers spend a huge amount of their daily lives either on or by the water. British Rowing, River Action and The Rivers Trust developed a set of guidelines for rowing on poor quality water – first used to keep rowers safer during this year’s Gemini Boat race between the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. The guidance was issued when River Action revealed alarmingly high levels of dangerous E.coli bacteria from sewage pollution along the stretch of the River Thames used for the race. Sadly, despite the warnings, guidance and precautions taken by rowers, some of them still got sick.

‘Guidance on rowing when water quality is poor’ has been written to minimise the risk of contracting illness due to proximity to polluted water. 

Included are helpful tips on the importance of covering cuts, grazes, and blisters with waterproof dressings, taking care not to swallow river water that splashes close to the mouth, wearing suitable footwear when launching or recovering a boat, and cleaning all equipment thoroughly.

Ms Peck said, “Guidance can be issued but ultimately river users are having to take a risk. To help keep them safer we need greater monitoring of rivers for pathogens and a duty of care from water companies and the government issuing health warnings, not only for designated bathing sites but also major events and other popular bathing hotspots.”

ENDS

For interviews call Ian Woolverton on 07377 547 362 or email media@riveractionuk.com

NOTES TO EDITORS 
Between 1st May and 17th May, River Action conducted testing (10 tests in total) on the River Thames near to the Christ Church Boat Club, Oxford. Tests results indicate an average of 340 E.coli colony forming units (CFU) per 100ml of water. To meet the lowest grade of bathing water quality standards, this level should be below 900 CFU per 100ml. Our highest recorded spike reached 952 CFU, over the level the Environment Agency considers acceptable for designated bathing waters graded poor, the bottom of four categories. When bathing water is graded ‘poor’ the Government’s advice is against bathing. By comparison, the Environment Agency conducts between 3 and 20 water quality tests of bathing water sites between May and September to decide the status. According to the Environment Agency, an inland water registering 900 CFU or greater is unsafe to swim. 

The E.coli bacterium is found in faeces and can survive in the environment. It can cause a range of infections including urinary tract infection, cystitis (infection of the bladder), and intestinal infection, stomach cramps, bloody diarrhoea, and vomiting. In the worst of cases, some strains of E.coli can lead to life-threatening sepsis (blood poisoning) requiring urgent medical attention.

Oxford Clean Rivers Festival will take place on Saturday, May 25th, at the picturesque Longbridges Nature Park adjacent to the Thames, a mile south of the centre of Oxford. The Festival will have a family fun atmosphere with music, entertainment, and engaging talks from both national and local speakers. The festival centres around the state of our rivers, prompting participants to pledge their commitment to the restoration of these vital natural resources. The event will run from 12pm – 5pm and promises to be both educational and entertaining, offering attendees the opportunity to learn more about our wonderful river and how they can play a role in its restoration

River Action conducts citizen science on waterways to determine whether there are pathogens present harmful to the health of humans and wildlife. We are on a mission to rescue Britain’s rivers by raising awareness of the crisis facing our rivers, and the failure of Government funded environmental agencies to make water companies invest in their polluting infrastructure and to prosecute illegal business practices that cause river pollution.

Farming practices will have to change, rules judge following River Action legal action over state of River Wye

Posted on by lewis

A judge has ruled that farming practices will have to change so that farmers obey the Farming Rules for Water in response to a legal challenge by River Action over the Environment Agency’s alleged failure to enforce regulations to protect the River Wye form pollution.

In a judgment handed down today, a judge found that the Environment Agency (EA) had responded to River Action’s campaign for change and improved its enforcement of the Farming Rules for Water.

River Action says its legal action to make the Environment Agency face up to its responsibility to enforce regulations to save the River Wye from the effects of agricultural pollution was entirely justified and the EA would not have improved its approach to enforcement to convince the court that it was now complying with its responsibilities if it had not brought the legal action.

The judge was at pains to point out the important role the case has had in clarifying the legal obligations on farmers and the EA’s duties in enforcing them, finding:

“It is undoubtedly unfortunate, and has not assisted the defendant’s enforcement activities, that there has been a conflict in the interpretation of the 2018 Regulations between the defendant [The EA] and the interested party [DEFRA] . However, a significant by-product of these proceedings is, firstly, that that difference of opinion has been bought into the public domain for determination, and, secondly, that the defendant’s internal documentation (including for instance the FAQ’s) have been revisited, revised and refined to ensure that they have at their foundation the defendant’s interpretation of the 2018 Regulations.

“No doubt the clarification of the correct interpretation of the 2018 Regulations comprised within this judgment will provide further assistance in future.”

The High Court examined the EA’s enforcement of regulations that govern the amount of organic manure and artificial fertiliser that can be spread on agricultural land from which water runs off and leaches into the River Wye.

It was argued that the Wye is heavily polluted because excessive amounts of animal and in particular chicken manure are regularly spread across land within the river catchment, leading to a substantial increase in levels of phosphorus in the soil. This then runs off and leaches into the river, causing widespread algal blooms along the length of the river system, turning the water an opaque green.

Algal blooms block sunlight, remove oxygen and cause widespread algal deposits across the riverbed, with severe consequences for the vegetation and wildlife of the river. 

The Wye was designated a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) to protect the river’s once-famous extensive Ranunculus river weed beds. However over 90 per cent of the river’s Ranunculus have now been lost, smothered by algal blooms and last year Natural England downgraded the Wye’s environmental status to Unfavourable, declining.

River Action says this could have been seriously mitigated had the EA enforced existing environmental regulations. River Action had argued:

  • The Environment Agency has adopted an approach to enforcing the Farming Rules for Water (FRfW) that ultimately frustrates the purpose of the legislation it is supposed to enforce 

  • By slavishly following guidance issued by the Environment Secretary the Environment Agency has put itself in a situation where it is acting unlawfully
  • The Environment Agency has breached regulation 9(3) of The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 in that its policy on enforcement of the FRfW unlawfully fails to follow the requirements of the Habitats Directive

The judge dismissed the claim for judicial review on all three grounds, but he found that with the changes made to the EA’s enforcement practices during the course of the proceedings, the EA’s documents were compliant with the law. These changes were only made as a result of River Action’s legal claim.

Importantly, the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) put forward detailed evidence suggesting that it would not be viable to farm in a way that complied with River Action’s interpretation of the FRfW. Under very tight time constraints, and working with a range of farmers who practice sustainable and regenerative farming methods, River Action put forward compelling evidence that farmers could farm in a way that complies with the law. 

The judge found that the farming practices described in the NFU’s evidence will need to change if they are to comply with the FRfW, saying: 

“The claimant’s evidence demonstrates that there is practical experience of agricultural practices being capable of complying with the claimant and defendant’s interpretation of the regulations. The evidence provided by the intervener [the NFU] demonstrates that current agricultural working practices would have to change if the claimant’s and the defendant’s interpretation of the Regulations is to be complied with, and that changes to the way in which farms operate together with associated costs would arise from the operation of that interpretation. Whilst no doubt unwelcome to the intervener and its members, I am unable to accept that the evidence demonstrates the kind of impracticality or absurdity which justifies the rejection of the claimant’s and defendant’s case on this point. For the reasons I have set out above, is the appropriate interpretation of regulation 4 and its effect.”

River Action’s chairman and founder Charles Watson said: 

“We clearly have a number of reasons to be pleased with today’s judgement: River Action was deemed to have done the right thing in bringing this case to court; River Action’s  interpretation of the law was considered by the judge to be correct with the NFUs intervention being squarely dismissed; the judge has said farming practices must change; and, most significantly, the environmental damage perpetrated by intensive farming practices has been acknowledged and that thanks to River Action bringing its claim, the Environment Agency has changed its approach to enforcing the Farming Rules for Water. While the judge states the latter point is grounds to reject River Action’s belief that the EA continues to act unlawfully, we remain concerned that there is widespread evidence that agricultural regulations are still being broken across the Wye Catchment and that the EA is still not being held accountable for its failure to enforce the law. River Action is simply not prepared to sit back and continue to watch these injustices to our rivers continue. Accordingly, we are taking immediate advice with regards to appealing the judgment.” 

River Action is represented by Leigh Day environment team solicitor Ricardo Gama, who added:


“River Action feel vindicated in having brought their claim for judicial review. They believe that the dire state of the River Wye is in part because of a failure properly to enforce the rules that were put in place specifically to deal with agricultural pollution, the main cause of the decline in the health of the river. The judge has found that the Environment Agency’s enforcement policies are now lawful, but he has also noted that significant improvements were made to the policies to address the issues which River Action’s case has brought to light. 

“The judge was also unpersuaded by evidence put forward by the NFU that it would not be viable to farm in a legally compliant way if River Action’s interpretation of the law was right. The judge has said that River Action was right in their interpretation of the law and he welcomed the extensive evidence which River Action put forward of farmers who do the right thing and farm in a way that respects the rules. 

“River Action hope that the important clarification to the law contained in this judgement will help regulators, farmers and communities understand their legal duties. However, they are concerned with aspects of the judgement and are considering an appeal.”

ENDS

For interviews call Ian Woolverton on 07377 547 362 or email media@riveractionuk.com

END POO-LUTION: My Journey as a University Activist for Norwich’s Rivers

Posted on by lewis

By Rebecca Hardy, Aged 20, 3rd year Student at the University of East Anglia

As a third-year International Relations student at the University of East Anglia, I never imagined my academic journey would lead me to the heart of a grassroots environmental campaign. 

It all started in my Activist Campaigning class. We had a guest speaker from River Action who painted a vivid picture of the challenges facing our local waterways. Pollution, habitat destruction, and neglect have heavily affected the rivers that once thrived in this region. Inspired and eager to make a difference, I joined a newly formed student group dedicated to campaigning for the health of our rivers. 

Our first meeting was a mix of excitement and uncertainty. None of us had any real experience in activism, but we shared a common goal: to learn how to campaign effectively and bring about tangible change. We began by educating ourselves, diving into research about the local ecosystems, the impact of pollution, and successful environmental campaigns around the world. We attended workshops on advocacy and social media strategies, hosted by experienced activists and professors. 

Armed with knowledge and a growing sense of purpose, we launched our campaign. We started by organising a week’s worth of campaigning such as creating and handing out flyers and showing off our fantastic placards (shoutout to the design team!) . 

As our confidence grew, so did our ambitions. We created a petition demanding stronger environmental protections for the rivers. Our weekends were spent canvassing in busy areas, talking to locals about the importance of clean rivers. Engaging with the community was both challenging and rewarding. We encountered scepticism but also found allies who were passionate about our cause. As a result we garnered over 250 signatures for our petition which was a great result considering our campaign being short. 

Social media has become a powerful tool in our arsenal such as creating Instagram, Facebook and Twitter accounts which got some attention. One of my most memorable moments was participating in an international conference in America where other

Campaigning students shared what they were working on. This provided a great learning experience and reflecting on what we have already achieved but also improve on next time. 

Our efforts culminated in a hustings event with Green party member Gary Champion and River Action’s Chloe Peck. The hustings was overall a success with many willing participants and loads of questions which could have lasted more than an hour!. To our delight, the council acknowledged our concerns and promised to take steps towards better river management and pollution control. 

Reflecting on this journey, I am struck by how much I have learned and grown. Campaigning for Norwich’s rivers has taught me the power of community, the importance of persistence, and the impact that a dedicated group of individuals can have. It has been a transformative experience, turning a group of university students into passionate advocates for environmental change. The rivers of Norwich are more than just waterways; they are lifelines that connect us all, and I am proud to be part of the movement to protect and revive them. 

“As our world slips into an ecological crisis, I feel implored to fight for my future [. . .] and water is a vital part of it”: Young voices call for change.

Posted on by lewis

By Flora Wallace, aged 16.

As I walked towards the huddle of rowing enthusiasts crowding before the Linacre Rowing Club facilities, I felt a sense of confidence and trepidation fill me at the sight. On Saturday 20th April, the Linacre women’s 8 rowing boat was named ‘River Action’, to honour the campaign group’s work drawing global attention to the horrific levels of pollution on the River Thames.

As a young person at the event, I felt privileged to be surrounded by such admirable people whose lives revolve around caring for others, the planet and in many cases their sport. I wandered around with my sister chatting by my side and witnessed partnerships turn to friendships and strangers turn to colleagues. 

With the river running murky beside us, we feel our sadness at the state of the River Thames washed away by uplifting speeches from James Wallace, CEO of River Action and Frederick Mulder. They remind us what we are all striving for and the desperate needs of our rivers today. 

I feel sickened, as do many rowers affected by E. Coli poisoning in the past year, at the poor state of Britain’s rivers and feel the health and happiness of my own future inexplicably linked to the wellbeing of every waterway around me. The toll of millions of hours of sewage discharge in the past year is painted clearly through the clumps of algal bloom and streams clouded brown, snaking their way through cities and rural countryside. 

Lethal levels of the E.coli pathogen from sewage released from under regulated water companies, like Thames Water, are poisoning our waterways. As a young person, who should look up to the government with pride and confidence, I feel constantly overwhelmed by the disappointing levels of protection being taken to save the water that each and everyone of us relies on. 

We all need water to survive and as I see futures of deprivation flash before my eyes, I think back to my childhood, filled with wild swimming in my local Kennet river. Weeping willows dancing beside the clear water rushing beside me and a feeling of elation at the beauty surrounding me.

As our world slips into an ecological crisis, I feel implored to fight for my future and just as every rower will agree with me, water is a vital part of it. So let’s protect it and value it and remember the summers we spent playing in it. Because those summers are over now and the safety we were once guaranteed is now fading into the past.

In the spotlight: The River Cree Hatchery & Habitat Trust SCIO

Posted on by lewis

At River Action, we want to highlight the amazing work of communities up and down the country. Here we take a look at River Cree Hatchery & Habitat Trust SCIO (RCHHT) a community-led conservation project initiated by local people who have a passion to improve the health of their river.

THE STORY

In March 2010, members of Newton Stewart Angling Association commenced the hatchery and habitat project in response to the decline in the numbers of Atlantic salmon in The River Cree and its tributaries.

By October 2010 the hatchery facility was operational and in the first season some 65000 salmon fry were raised in the hatchery and returned to the river.

In 2011 a charitable trust, The River Cree Hatchery and Habitat Trust, was formed to take over the running of the project and shortly thereafter a full-time Hatchery Coordinator was employed to oversee the running of the operation.  Over the next few years the project steadily increased the scope of its activities, including:

  • Up to 190,000 salmon fry were reared in the hatchery each year and stocked into the Cree catchment.
  • Electro-fishing skills were honed in order to assist with broodstock capture and to monitor fish numbers, including stocked fry
  • A programme of extensive habitat improvements was commenced, including removing barriers to migration, controlling Invasive Non Native Species, cutting back self-seeded Sitka on the banks of spawning burns and re-planting with native broadleaf trees.
  • An education programme, initially involving four local primary schools, was developed. 
  • A training programme was developed to enable employment and training opportunities to be offered to local unemployed youngsters.
  • Volunteering opportunities were offered for up to forty local people each year. Fish husbandry techniques were developed to improve the quality of the salmon fry being reared. Stocking of a limited number of fin-clipped fry was commenced to assist in identifying hatchery-reared adult salmon

In February 2023 the operation was transferred to River Cree Hatchery & Habitat Trust SCIO, which continues to deliver and develop all the above activities.

To deliver this extensive programme of activities it is important that the Trust trains a team of volunteers with the necessary skills to run the hatchery and con-duct the habitat restoration work. The Trustees would very much appreciate any assistance you feel you could offer to promote the further development of River Cree Hatchery & Habitat Trust SCIO. For further information on future developments please contact: Murdo Crosbie (Co-ordinator) Tel: 01671 403722/ 07798653740; email to: mcrosbie7@aol.com.

Vile amounts of human sewage detected at popular rowing site on the Thames. British Rowing and River Action warn river users to take extreme caution

Posted on by lewis
Sewage pollution filmed in the Thames at Putney (03/05/24).

British Rowing and River Action warn that vile amounts of human sewage has been discharged by Thames Water along the Putney Embankment, home to over ten rowing clubs on the River Thames.

This follows news that the organisers of the Boulter’s to Bray Swim in Maidenhead have cancelled this year’s community event over concerns about the water cleanliness. And days after water-based sports across the UK united to call on the government to act to address pollution in rivers, lakes and coastal waters.

Thames RC captain Huw Jones said: “The frequency and severity of sewage discharges into the tidal Thames is increasing. On Thursday this week the visible signs of raw sewage on Putney Embankment led the club to cancel rowing sessions to safeguard athlete health. This situation is unacceptable, and we call on Thames Water to take immediate action.”

CEO of British Rowing Alastair Marks said, “We are gravely concerned about the state of the Thames and the effect this pollution is having on our rowers and their safety. Over the last few days, we’ve had reports of sessions cancelled due to concerns over water quality and countless photographs of the obvious pollution. We urge our community to take care of their health first and foremost and to continue following our guidance for rowing when the water quality is poor.”

CEO of River Action James Wallace said, “The shocking reality is that it is simply not safe to swim in rivers like the Thames due to the huge levels of recent raw sewage discharges. Regular E.coli testing which River Action, and other citizen scientists, has carried in recent weeks show the pathogen levels at a multiple of what would be considered safe for bathing.

“We have also been approached now by dozens of river users who have become seriously ill after coming into contact with the river. It is also scandalous that there has been no public health advice on this issue from any government body – and it’s up to charitable organisations like River Action to test the river and keep the public safe.

“Where is the Environment Agency and the Department for Health? Why aren’t they holding the polluters to account and protecting people’s health? Frankly, the Thames should come with a health warning.”

Guidance on rowing when water quality is poor

Rowers spend a huge amount of their daily lives either on or by the water. British Rowing, River Action and The Rivers Trust have developed a set of guidelines for rowing on poor quality water. ‘Guidance on rowing when water quality is poor’ has been written to minimise the risk of contracting illness due to proximity to polluted water. 

Included are helpful tips on the importance of covering cuts, grazes, and blisters with waterproof dressings, taking care not to swallow river water that splashes close to the mouth, wearing suitable footwear when launching or recovering a boat, and cleaning all equipment thoroughly.

ENDS

For interviews call Ian at River Action on 07377 547 362 and Lily Fraser at British Rowing on 07540 722442

A Global Outlook with a Local Focus: the UK River Summit 2024

Posted on by lewis

Set to take place at Morden Hall on the River Wandle, London, SM4 5JD, on the 21st May 2024,  The UK River Summit Festival is an event which promises to be a platform for collaboration and communication to improve our river health.

BOOK YOUR TICKET

The event will bring together leading environmentalists, businesses, individuals, brands, and members of the public who share a desire to work towards a more positive future for our rivers, both on a local and national scale.

It offers the public insight into the expert voices behind the headlines and the chance for campaigners, advocates, and conservationists to unify. Importantly, it promises to be a momentous movement, capturing the essence of community, culture, and environmental consciousness against the backdrop of our beloved rivers.

SEE FULL SCHEDULE

Speakers include the likes of: Lawrence Gosden (CEO of Southern Water), Lila Thompson (CEO of British Water), Feargal Sharkey (Campaigner and Vice Chair of River Action), Penny Gane (Head of Practice at Fish legal), James Wallace (CEO of River Action), Shaun Leonard (Director at Wild Trout Trust), Bella Davies (CEO of South East Rivers Trust), Jim Murray (Actor and Founder of Activist Anglers) and many, many more.

There will be a wild food lunch with DeliVita, cold Beers from Lakedown Brewing Company and soft drinks available, all included in the ticket price.

The afternoon will feature further panels and workshops throughout the day, from a range of local organisations and NGOs including: The Wandle Piscators, South East Rivers Trust, Orvis UK, WildFish, Abel & Cole, National Trust, Wandle Industrial Museum and many more, as well as comedy, music and film screenings. (Find out more).

We look forward to seeing you there!