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Month: July 2024

River campaigners contest Thames Water claims River Action was ‘alarmist’ about water quality, and call on them to clean up their pollution

Posted on by lewis

Campaigners have contested the public claims by Thames Water that River Action was ‘alarmist’ when it revealed the stretch of the Thames used for the Henley Royal Regatta was unsafe. 

The call comes in an open letter to the CEO of Thames Water Chris Weston signed by British Rowing, a member of the House of Lords, the Mayor of Henley and river champions Feargal Sharkey and Steve Backshall.

Rather than being alarmist, River Action believes that Thames Water is polluting all the time because they don’t remove harmful bacteria from treated water before it enters the river, which is known as tertiary or quaternary treatment.

In late June, River Action revealed alarmingly high levels of E.coli on the Thames used for the Regatta, the world’s biggest international rowing event in the calendar; and a part of the river used for swimming events involving thousands of competitors risking their health. This followed a month of testing by the Henley and Marlow River Action Group in the lead up to the world-famous rowing competition. The testing involved a World Health Organization verified E.coli device, as used by the Olympic team in France to assess water quality on the River Seine. The UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology said the data was “probably accurate.”

But in an interview with BBC television on June 28, Thames Water said in a statement read out by a reporter, “We need honest and balanced debate that recognises the range of factors impacting river health, rather than an alarmist approach that tries to apportion blame in a misguided way.”

Misleading claims by Thames Water on BBC Radio Berkshire

In the lead up to the Regatta, Thames Water conducted its own water quality testing, going on to give an interview to BBC Radio Berkshire on June 25.  During the interview, a Thames Water spokesperson said, “Under dry conditions, we’re seeing some pretty good water quality.”

However, what the spokesperson failed to tell the listener is that the testing did not take place on the Henley Mile used for the Regatta. It took place at Hambledon Lock and Marsh Lock, some distance away from the racecourse. River Action’s testing was conducted on the racecourse at Fawley Meadows, where the effluent from the Henley Sewage Treatment Works enters the river.

In another twist, inspecting the water quality data from Thames Water cited in the BBC Radio interview, it can be revealed that on 4 occasions they detected E.coli levels considered by the Environment Agency to be unsafe to swim – demolishing claims put forward by Thames Water that they were “seeing some pretty good water quality.”For 12 days between 27th June and 9th July River Action’s citizen scientists tested at Fawley Meadows before, during and after the Henley Royal Regatta. Every single test was above safe levels of E.coli, on average 4,396CFU which is over 4 times worse than Environment Agency limits of 900CFU. If this was a designated bathing site it would come with a health warning: Advice Against Bathing.

In the open letter, the signatories ask Thames Water to:

  • Correct the record on water quality so that river users are aware that Thames Water testing in Henley did not take place on the Regatta racecourse, but at sites some distance from it
  • Properly invest in infrastructure improvements, specifically at Henley Sewage Treatment Works and Wargrave Sewage Treatment Works by implementing tertiary/quaternary treatment to remove harmful bacteria and viruses
  • Take responsibility for Thames Water’s role in the degradation of the River Thames catchment, and acknowledge that farming in Henley could be a cause given the lack of any meaningful concentrations of intensive agriculture in the locality, and clear evidence of sewage-related bacteria in the river.

CEO of River Action James Wallace said, “Our testing was rigorous, robust, used WHO verified technology, was independently approved, and published on several websites.  For Thames Water to call us alarmist is a joke.  We should all be alarmed and concerned that their creaking wastewater treatment plant at Henley is causing a risk to the health of the river and river users. They should focus on getting their business in order rather than trying to discredit citizen scientists for calling out dangerously high levels of E.coli on the Thames.”

The Mayor of Henley Rory Hunt, said, “I was shocked when in a recent meeting with river stakeholders Thames Water’s representative stated that the river had never been in better condition. This simply isn’t true and this is shown by the testing, and for Thames Water to state this beggars belief. 

“Thames Water is the primary cause of pollution in the Thames and has failed in both its moral and legal duties. As a result of sewage pollution my constituents are facing disruption to their livelihoods and more seriously many of them have become unwell due to the pollution in the river. The pollution is also having a very damaging impact on the ecosystem and wildlife in our rivers, and if this is not tackled with urgency the damage could be irreversible. This is a serious public health and environmental issue and Thames Water should be ashamed that for years they have prioritised private profit over the public good. 

“I am proud that Henley Town Council, and subsequently Witney Town Council and Oxfordshire County Council have passed motions of no confidence in Thames Water and hopefully many more councils will follow suit. The people of this county have clearly had enough and I am pleased to be working with River Action to address this issue.”

River Action writes to the Secretary of State for the Environment

As revealed in last week’s King’s Speech, the newly elected Government will

introduce a Water Bill to improve water quality by putting failing water companies under tough special measures by strengthening the water regulators. 

With this in mind, River Action has shared the open letter to Thames Water with the Secretary of State for the Environment, Steve Reed MP. 

“The Secretary of State for the Environment has said he will prioritise water quality, so we hope that addressing our concerns with Thames Water’s record on river pollution is seen as an excellent opportunity for him to show leadership and give the environmental regulators sufficient resources and powers to sort this mess out. The Environment Agency’s Environmental Performance Assessment published on Tuesday for 2023 shows Thames Water only reported 76% of pollution incidents, proving yet again they can not be trusted, not least because the record shows they were the worst polluting water company in England with 14 serious pollution incidents,” added CEO of River Action James Wallace.

Notes to editor

In the interests of transparency and to encourage openness about data collated on the UK’s rivers, River Action published the findings of its water quality testing at Fawley Meadows, Henley-on-Thames. The verified results are published here and on another site by the River Thames Water Quality Testing Group here. For ease of use, you can also download the report here.

This map illustrates where River Action tested on the Regatta racecourse, versus the testing done by Thames Water some distance from it. Here is a link to the Thames Water testing at Hambledon Lock and Marsh Lock, some distance from the racecourse. Use this graphic to understand their data and why, using the Environment Agency definition of bathing water status graded poor (when water quality is poor, the EA advice is not to swim),  to understand why it was misleading for the Thames Water spokesperson on BBC Radio Berkshire to claim they were seeing “some pretty good water quality.”

Listen to Thames Water on BBC Radio Berkshire here.  View their statement calling River Action alarmist on BBC South Today report.

ENDS

For media interviews call Ian at River Action on 07377 547 362 or email media@riveractionuk.com

River Action’s open letter to Thames Water

Posted on by lewis
River-Action-letter-to-Thames-Water-July-2024-1Download

Dear Chris Weston, 

WITHOUT PREJUDICE

We are writing to contest the public claims made by Thames Water that River Action is being alarmist in publishing E.coli test samples taken from the river at Henley-on-Thames on the Henley Royal Regatta course, and to ask Thames Water to urgently improve wastewater treatment to protect the health and livelihoods of Henley residents, businesses, visitors and athletes.

We are facing a freshwater emergency and companies like yours are failing to address it with the urgency that is required. This sense of urgency is shared by reputable organisations like the BBC, Financial Times and The Times and by communities across your catchment.

Dismissing River Action’s comments as alarmist diminishes the work of citizen scientists, such as the Henley and Marlow River Action Group, who devote significant time and costs to conducting testing to monitor the quality of the River Thames, and who have had regular meetings with your colleagues.

We understand you believe there to be a discrepancy between ours and your datasets. Our data is scientifically evidenced and is being used to inform the public of the health risks posed by the ongoing pollution caused by Thames Water:

  • River Action’s data is collected using a Fluidon World Health Organization verified E.Coli analyser – the same equipment used for the Olympics in France. Our results are available to the public and you can find our datasets here and here.
  • Thames Water’s own data shows the definite presence of E.coli and other bacteria in the final effluent from Henley Sewage Treatment Works. This was further confirmed to us in meetings with your colleagues (e.g. on the 20th June) and their confirmation there is no tertiary or quaternary treatment of final effluent, meaning bacteria and viruses are released into the Thames everyday, not just in storm overflow events. Please see the annex for further detail on our findings.
  • The Centre for Ecology and Hydrology considers both datasets to be correct. The Thames Water samples were taken further from the source of pollution and therefore are more dilute; ours were at the point source and therefore higher.
  • Thames Water’s press statement suggested other sources of pollution (such as agriculture) could be responsible and that the water quality. This was misleading to the public and failed to take the responsibility and duty of care demonstrated by your colleagues in meetings with us. The combination of Thames Water and River Action results clearly show E.coli levels increase to unsafe levels along the Regatta course as the river passes Henley STW outflows.

Both the Henley Royal Regatta and the famous Oxbridge boat race have been marred by pollution and illness. Earlier this year, the Oxford’s men’s team cited high levels of E.coli in the river causing illness in their team which they say played a part in their defeat. Our data was released ahead of the Regatta to avoid any further illness and iconic international events being marred by pollution stories. However, despite being aware of our results this year, Thames Water told the organisers and competitors of the Regatta that the quality of the water was mostly good.

We the signatories of this letter representing the NGO and sporting communities, call on you urgently to:

  • Properly invest in infrastructure improvements, specifically at Henley Sewage Treatment Works and Wargrave Sewage Treatment Works by implementing tertiary/quaternary treatment to remove harmful bacteria and viruses.
  • Take responsibility for Thames Water’s role in the degradation of the River Thames catchment. We are the first to recognise that agriculture is a prominent polluter, but in the case of Henley, your claims that farming could be a cause are not founded given the lack of any meaningful concentrations of intensive agriculture in the locality, and clear evidence of sewage-related bacteria in the river.
  • Correct the record on water quality. On June 25th your spokesperson told Kirsten O’Brien on BBC Radio Berkshire that most samples met the threshold for ‘good’ status, apart from two days in May and June after rain where elevated readings were taken after rain. However, this omits any testing at Fawley meadows – at the very centre of the Henley racecourse – where the effluent from the Henley Sewage Treatment Works enters the river and where the actual Henley Regatta takes place. This is where our research found alarmingly high levels of E.coli bacteria. Your organisation was made aware of these findings before the event and did not show a duty of care to visitors and competitors.

We believe that rather than resisting the public’s demands for accountability, honesty and transparency, Thames Water should take a valuable step towards rebuilding trust by acknowledging your role in the demise of the river, and what you plan to do to resolve it. We would welcome the opportunity to help the community achieve this, and urge you to take responsibility and show the necessary leadership.

Please provide an urgent response to our requests. We would happily meet to discuss the actions you plan to take to address this unacceptable situation.

Yours sincerely,

James Wallace – River Action CEO

Charles Watson – River Action Founder and Chair 

Co-signed by:

Angling Trust

British Rowing

Councillor Rory Hunt – Mayor of Henley on Thames 

Feargal Sharkey

Steve Backshall

Dave Wallace – Henley and Marlow River Action Group

Freddie Van Mierlo – Liberal Democrat MP for Henley & Thame

Greener Henley

Henley Mermaids

River and Rowing Museum

Great Britain Outrigger

Lord John Randall

Royal Yachting Association 

Surfers Against Sewage

Swim England

Annex.

Test results

  • On each of 12 occasions between 27th June and 9th July – before, during and after the Regatta – our results (select Fawley Meadows) showed very high levels of E.coli in the river water at Fawley Meadows, where the final effluent empties from Thames Water Henley Sewage Treatment Works into the River Thames via a series of streams/ditches.
  • With results ranging from 1680CFU to 8001CFU (per 100ml), we have demonstrated that every day we tested was much higher than the Environment Agency standard for poor water quality at 900CFU, regardless of whether it rained.
  • When combined with Thames Water’s lower test results upstream at Marsh Lock and downstream at Hambledon Lock, this proves beyond reasonable doubt that the STW discharges E.coli and other bacteria in its final effluent. 
  • Thames Water’s staff have stated in meetings with River Action, and others including the Mayor of Henley and Town Councillors, that Henley STW does not have tertiary/quaternary treatment and so discharges bacteria in final effluent as a norm each day.
  • This has been confirmed through sight of your data showing final effluent with high levels of E.coli issued from Henley STW outflow into the streams/ditches that lead into the River Thames along the Regatta course. This is the reason why levels of E.coli increase after Marsh lock as the river passes the Henley STW, and with further distance and dilution why Hambledon Lock measures are lower downstream.
  • Your staff recognised that your permit does not require you to have tertiary/quaternary treatment, however your organisational press statements ignore this key fact and imply other sources of pollution are likely.

ENDS

For media interviews call Ian at River Action on 07377 547 362 or email media@riveractionuk.com

Henry Shepherd joins River Action

Posted on by lewis

We’re delighted to introduce Henry Shepherd, our new Communities Coordinator, who will be joining Chloe and Erica in our growing Communities Team at River Action. In our latest blog, we get to know more about Henry and the role that he will play to help rescue Britain’s rivers.

Q1. Tell us about yourself

I’m a young, passionate environmentalist and advocate for protecting the natural world upon which my and my generation’s future depends on. I’ve grown up in-and-around nature, and even in my time I have witnessed its dramatic decline. 

I’m desperate to protect and restore what little we have left, especially in the UK – not just because we rely upon it every day, but for its intrinsic value and beauty too. This has spurred my interest in the politics of environmental issues. 

Most likely as a result of my appreciation of the natural world, I am a keen traveller, always looking to visit new places and have new experiences. Apart from that, I enjoy a good country walk, love a bit of reggae, and still can’t beat a kick-about with my mates at the park.

Q2. How did you become interested in river protection?

From the canals in Birmingham where I went to University, to the Loch’s in the Highlands where I was born, I’ve always been around water. Every train journey, country walk, or road trip, we cross paths with our waterways. They are the veins of our environment running across the land. Their prolific pollution has infuriated me ever since I’ve known. How could we allow such short-sighted carelessness to take place, and even worse, allow people to profit from it? 

Turning this frustration and sense of injustice into hope can be hard in a sector in which many feel hopeless. Rivers, however, are a great example of how we really can make a difference. They are woven into so many aspects of our society and economy, uniting a wide range of stakeholders and presenting countless opportunities to play a part in working together towards a solution. 

So, whilst their desperate need for a voice was enough to motivate me, the potential for our rivers to set the standard for what people who care about the planet can achieve together also inspired me.

Q3. Tell us about your new role as Communities Coordinator at River Action…what can we expect to see from your role in 2024?

I am excited to be publishing and delivering the River Rescue Kit website, which aims to empower and encourage people from all walks of life to get involved in addressing the dire state of our rivers. 

As part of this, I will support and work alongside communities and campaigners to ensure that the new government understands that river pollution is an issue that the public cares about, and one that requires immediate and serious action. 

I’m also looking forward to coordinating campaigns at a grassroots level, as part of the Thames Campaign, and I’m keen to establish more community connections in Northern Ireland, North England, and in my homeland, Scotland.

Q4. Finally, in your opinion, what is further needed/what needs to change to rescue Britain’s rivers?

Firstly, for me, it’s an attitudinal shift that is required across certain sectors to one that sees our waterways not as resources to be exploited, but as essential infrastructure underpinning our society, food systems, economy, and our little remaining, wonderful wildlife. 

We also need stricter regulation, enforcement of the law, and increased funding – all across the agricultural sector, water sector, and the Environment Agency. This necessitates that precedents be set and lines be drawn by our government and courts to make it clear that the current state of play is not sustainable, and must, and can, change. 

To achieve this, we have to continue to use our voices to speak up for our rivers and demand that those in positions of power use their privilege to push for this issue to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

King’s Speech: welcome news of a Water Bill to improve water quality through tougher regulation; but proposed mandatory housing targets must not lead to more human waste in our rivers

Posted on by lewis

Responding to the King’s Speech and the Government’s plans to introduce a Water Bill to improve water quality by putting failing water companies under tough special measures by strengthening the water regulators, CEO of River Action James Wallace said, “We are pleased that river campaigners have been listened to and welcome the news that the Government will put in place a bill to improve water quality by holding water companies accountable by strengthening the water regulators, including the Environment Agency and Ofwat, the latter considered by many to be a captured regulator.

“Cleaning up the UK’s rivers was a Labour manifesto promise so now we wait to see what extra powers, funding and resources the regulators will be given to put failing water companies under special measures, to ban bonuses for polluting water company bosses; and to use the full force of the law to bring criminal charges against persistent polluters who put profit before the health of rivers and river users.

On plans to stimulate economic growth through planning reform and mandatory housing targets, CEO of River Action James Wallace said, 

“It remains to be seen how the Government will balance the need for sustainable new homes and healthy rivers. The two are not mutually exclusive.

“The current outdated and underfunded wastewater infrastructure system cannot cope with a nationwide homebuilding program without rapid investment to reduce the risks of putting more sewage into our already dirty rivers. After decades of chronic under investment, the wastewater system buckles when it rains, leading to the release of raw sewage into rivers and the sea, ostensibly to protect properties from overloaded sewers during heavy storm events. In reality, the system can’t even cope with a light rain shower. Therefore, alongside home building with rainwater and grey water reuse, we need legally binding measures and effective planning interventions put in place to protect our rivers from pollution. This means, at a minimum, expanding the capacity of wastewater treatment works and implementing sustainable drainage systems (SUDS) in new sustainable housing developments.”

ENDS

For interviews call Ian at River Action on 07377 547 362.

Legal challenge aims to halt growth of intensive poultry industry in River Severn Catchment

Posted on by lewis

A legal challenge to Shropshire Council over its decision to give planning permission for a major intensive poultry unit aims to halt the further spread of industrial scale chicken farming both in the county and the wider catchment of the River Severn.

The application for judicial review was initiated and is funded by environmental campaigning group River Action which is waging a legal fight to fully enforce regulations to prevent pollution by intensive agricultural practices in the River Wye catchment area.

River Action says the Wye catchment area has been devastated by the failure to enforce anti-pollution regulations and it is determined to help prevent similar ecological damage to the neighbouring catchment of the River Severn.

The claimant, Dr Alison Caffyn, who lives in Shropshire and is a member of River Action’s advisory board, is represented by the environment team at law firm Leigh Day. She is challenging Shropshire Council over its decision in May 2024 to give planning permission for an application by LJ Cooke & Son for a poultry production unit that will include four poultry rearing buildings, each over 100m long, and a biomass store with boilers at North Farm, Felton Butler, Montford Bridge, Shropshire. The unit would house 230,000 birds, just 400m from an existing poultry site which is believed to house nearly half a million birds.

Permission was initially refused after Natural England advised that three protected sites, Shrawardine Pool, Lin Can Moss and Fenemere, could “be sensitive to impacts for aerial pollutants” and council officers said the plan did not detail proposals for handling chicken manure without an anaerobic digester.

However the plan was approved after LJ Cooke proposed exporting manure to a third party anaerobic digestion unit so that the digestate could be spread on farmland.

Critical objections to the application raised by Dr Caffyn and other local residents were disregarded. These included both the fact that the processing of manure at an off-site anaerobic digestion unit would not cut nitrate and phosphate groundwater pollution as the digestate would still be spread on farmland and that the Hencott Pool and Fenemere protected sites were both in “unfavourable condition” and the development should only be permitted if the “imperative reasons of overriding public interest test” could be satisfied.

Dr Caffyn has applied for judicial review on the grounds that there was:

  • A failure to assess the effects of spreading manure and the emissions from burning biomass, which as indirect effects of the development, needed to be assessed
  • A failure to impose a lawful planning condition on manure processing that would mean that the development would not cause groundwater pollution
  • A failure to carry out a lawful appropriate assessment as required by the Habitats Regulations to ensure that the development would not adversely affect the integrity of a designated protected site
  • A breach of regulation 9(3) of the Habitats Regulations, which requires the council to take steps to avoid the deterioration of habitats at protected sites

“We simply cannot allow the creation of more of these giant clusters of polluting poultry units.”

Dr Alison Caffyn

She points out that LJ Cooke used data from 2019-2021 to establish background ammonia levels, even though numerous applications for new or varied permits for poultry installations had been granted since 2020 which would enable approximately one million birds to be housed at any time in northern Shropshire.

Alison Caffyn said:

“I am delighted to have the opportunity, supported by River Action, to challenge this attempt to impose yet another massive factory farm upon the beautiful Shropshire countryside. Enough is enough. We simply cannot allow the creation of more of these giant clusters of polluting poultry units. There are already well over 20 million chickens in Shropshire, we don’t need more. Before we know it, the River Severn will soon be suffering the same pollution load as the neighbouring Wye – all because of these misguided and ill-informed planning decisions by Shropshire Council.”

Charles Watson, chair of River Action, said:

“One of the prime causes of the severe pollution of the River Wye was that when granting planning permission for the recent unprecedented proliferation of intensive factory farming units, the local county councils in Herefordshire and Powys never once considered the cumulative pollution impact that so much animal waste would have on the river catchment. Each application was treated as an individual event, with no thought being given to the fact that one of the most concentrated areas of intensive poultry production in Europe was springing up at the very heart of one of the most environmentally protected river catchments in the country.

“Like an appalling car crash in slow motion, exactly the same set of tragic events is now unfolding a few miles away in the neighbouring catchment of the River Severn. Shropshire County Council is waving through the planning system more and more huge intensive poultry unit applications, with no due consideration being given of their cumulative environmental impact and, by their own admission, are not even keeping any record of the number of intensive poultry units now operating across the region.

“River Action is determined to prevent a re-run of the environmental scandal of the Wye taking place across yet another one of the UK’s iconic rivers – hence why we have instigated and are actively supporting this critical legal action.”

Commenting further Alison Caffyn added, “I am delighted to have the opportunity, supported by River Action, to challenge this attempt to impose yet another massive factory farm upon the beautiful Shropshire countryside. Enough is enough. We simply cannot allow the creation of more of these giant clusters of polluting poultry units.

There are already well over 20 million chickens in Shropshire, we don’t need more. Before we know it, the River Severn will soon be suffering the same pollution load as the neighbouring Wye – all because of these misguided and ill-informed planning decisions by Shropshire Council.

Leigh Day environment team solicitor Ricardo Gama, added:

“So far, the approach that we’ve seen adopted has allowed industrial concentrations of poultry and livestock to be produced in highly protected countryside locations. Our client hopes that her claim for judicial review will set a precedent for local authorities across the country determining planning applications for similar developments which will cumulatively have severe impacts on protected sites. She believes that there needs to be a complete rethink of this approach.”

ENDS

For media interviews call Ian at River Action on 07377 547 362 or email media@riveractionuk.com

NOTES FOR EDITORS

Leigh Day represents River Action is its public law action and also represents people bringing a civil claim for nuisance against Avara Foods Ltd, Freemans of Newent and Cargill Ltd arising from damage allegedly caused by chicken pollution in the Wye catchment area.

 

Households punished for failure of greedy water companies to upgrade crumbling infrastructure, filling rivers with human sewage

Posted on by lewis

Responding to the Ofwat announcement that household water bills are set to rise, CEO of River Action James Wallace said, “These bill hikes punish households struggling with the cost-of-living crisis for the abject failure of greedy water companies to invest in their crumbling infrastructure and reduce record sewage spills.  For decades the industry has put profit before the environment, rewarding its shareholders with billions in dividends, and in the process filling our rivers with human sewage.

“We face climate breakdown resulting in more intense weather events that put pressure on treatment plants and storm overflows, overwhelmed when it rains. The water companies have realised they’re in a mess of their making and have successfully appealed to Ofwat to approve increases in water bills to climate proof their infrastructure. It begs the question, what have they been doing all these decades and what exactly are households paying their water bills for, apart from lining the pockets of fat-cat CEOs trousering massive bonuses and seeing huge dividends flow to shareholders? Remember, this is an industry that spews millions of litres of sewage into rivers and wastes 3 billion litres of water a day.

“We must fix this national embarrassment of systemic sewage pollution which has caused environmental carnage to our rivers. To do this, rather than hiking customer bills and getting the public to pay for the failure of the water companies, Ofwat should direct their shareholders to urgently invest in fixing their leaky infrastructure. 

“Failing water companies should be put into special administration and refinanced to remove the opaque investment structures that have protected shareholders rather than bill payers, communities, and the environment. This process must begin now. We are in a freshwater emergency.

“The newly elected Labour Government has set out cleaning up our rivers as a priority and the manifesto committed to put failing water companies under special measures. The government has the political and public mandate behind it to push forward with ambitious measures that can hit water companies with the full force of the law, prioritising cleaning up our rivers, securing freshwater and restoring nature.  Ofwat and the Environment Agency must be resourced properly to clean up the mess of the last two decades of strategic deregulation and austerity.

“But we also need wholesale reform of Ofwat to ensure that people and the environment are prioritised over investors; and of the Environment Agency to ensure increased water quality monitoring and more meaningful fines of polluters. To date, Ofwat has allowed our water companies to be asset stripped by the financial engineering of their investors to the extent the country’s sewage infrastructure is failing due to woeful under-investment, and the Environment Agency has allowed this to happen with impunity.”

ENDS

For media interviews call Ian at River Action on 07377 547 362 or email media@riveractionuk.com