The campaign group River Action has been given permission to intervene in a claim made by the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) challenging Herefordshire County Council’s stricter plans for the management of manure from livestock.
As part of its claim, the NFU argues that manure from intensive poultry units (IPUs) and other agricultural developments should not be classed as waste under the council’s plans – an argument which River Action has now been allowed to contest alongside the council.
The NFU’s claim challenges the council’s Minerals and Waste Local Plan (MWLP), which was adopted in March 2024 and sets out more stringent waste management requirements for agricultural developments such as IPUs to meet.
These requirements include stricter rules for the management of manure from livestock, as well as developments having to be ‘nutrient neutral’ in order to avoid causing pollution from excessive nutrients (such as phosphates) in soil.
Ground one of the NFU’s claim argues that the manure produced by agricultural developments like IPUs should not be classified as waste under its general definition in the Waste Framework Directive (WFD), meaning that it would not come under the scope of the council’s waste plans.
However, River Action has now been allowed to intervene and submit arguments opposing this ground. The group argues that livestock manure causes environmental harm and therefore should be categorised as waste as per the WFD – which includes substances that lead to adverse environmental impacts in its definitions for waste.
River Action has made submissions arguing that damaging algal blooms in the River Wye have arisen as a result of livestock manure causing excessive phosphates to build up in the soil, which then runs into waterways.
River Action also argues that it cannot be assumed that manure stored and then sold to a third party, which is common practice, will be used in an environmentally safe way. The charity argues that manure should be classified as waste at least until its point of use, and that controls need to be in place to ensure that waste producers take responsibility for disposing of waste in a lawful way.
Charles Watson, founder and chairman of River Action said:
“It is beyond preposterous that the tens of thousands of tons of animal excrement that spews each year out of Herefordshire’s intensive poultry factory farms is anything other than waste – and environmentally harmful waste at that. We feel that for the NFU to try and wriggle out of behaving responsibly and agreeing to cooperate with the county council’s plans to dispose of this waste in a sustainable manner is yet another lamentable example of the Big Agri lobby showing scarce regard to protecting the environment.”
Leigh Day environment team solicitor Ricardo Gama said:
“Herefordshire Council are trying to do the right thing by putting in place planning measures which would require agribusinesses to show that the waste produced by new developments such as industrial scale poultry units will be properly dealt with. It’s clear that action like that is needed because a September 2024 Environment Agency report found that even with 100% compliance with other regulatory and voluntary measures, there would only be a 34% reduction in diffuse pollution from agriculture to waterways.
“Our client is therefore pleased to be supporting Herefordshire Council in their defence of this claim. It’s not clear why the NFU are challenging the council’s plans given all they require is that agricultural developments show that they’ll be able to deal with any waste that they create.”
London rally on Sunday 3 November to Save Britain’s polluted waterways
More than 130 of the UK’s most prominent environment, nature, fishing, water sports and community organisations, representing10.1 million supporters, will flood the streets of central London on November 3 for the March for Clean Water. The coalition calls on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to end the pollution of Britain’s rivers, lakes, and seas, or face the consequences of broken promises.
Nationwide demand for clean water
Environmental advocates, community leaders, and citizens from across the UK will march to call an end to the pollution caused by multiple sources, including water companies and intensive agriculture. Their asks of the new government are:
3) enforce the laws that exist to deter and punish illegal pollution.
Marchers will wear blue, symbolising the call for clean water
Campaigners remain deeply concerned that despite multiple commitments made during the recent General Election campaign to take resolute action to address the issue, they do not go nearly far enough to address the root causes of water pollution.
Most significantly, the measures that have been published in the Government’s planned Water (Special Measures) Bill do not address the chronic failure of regulation in recent years, whereby environmental laws and regulations have failed to be enforced by environmental protection agencies, allowing polluters to regularly break the law and poison our water bodies with impunity.
Meanwhile, while last week’s announcement by the Government of an independent Water Commission is a welcome step, it must ensure that the needs of the environment are fully considered and not sidelined by an apparent prioritisation of promoting economic growth. It must also address other major sources of pollution such as agriculture, which so far are conspicuous by their absence in the Commission’s terms of reference.
Join the fight against water pollution
Untreated sewage, agricultural runoff, and corporate negligence have pushed the UK’s rivers, seas, and lakes to ecological breaking point. The November 3 march represents a critical moment in the urgent quest for environmental justice, with families, activists, and communities demanding immediate government action to stop the rampant poisoning of Britain’s waterways.
Key speakers and performers
The march will feature voices from across the UK, including naturalist Chris Packham, broadcaster and campaigner Carol Vorderman, Olympic rowing champion Imogen Grant, nature presenter and President of the Wildlife Trusts Liz Bonnin, bestselling author Robert Macfarlane, and actor-musician Johnny Flynn, known most recently for his role in Ripley on Netflix.
Eleven-year-old Benjamin Fallow will address the crowd, representing the next generation’s call for urgent action on the water crisis. Alongside them stand grassroots environmental groups, anglers, swimmers, surfers, rowers, and a diverse array of clean water lovers, as well as water industry workers represented by the GMB Union (the biggest union in the water industry) disillusioned by the failure of their employers to manage the water industry responsibly.
Powerful symbols on the day
The march will feature striking visuals, including:
Poly the Whale, Truth About Plastic’s 7x2m sculpture made entirely from plastic waste collected from rivers and oceans, will be on display. Weighing 130kgs – the estimated amount of plastic that pollutes the ocean every second – Poly is a powerful reminder of the growing plastic crisis.
A 3m tall Goddess of the River Wye, evoking the spirit of the iconic river and the ecosystems at risk.
At least 40Extinction Rebellion drummers will energise and the inspire marchers. Participants are also invited to bring to London samples of water from their rivers, lakes and beaches – which will all be combined into a single vessel before being symbolically returned to the River Thames at the end of the march on the outgoing tide.
Voices of protest
Leading voices from the coalition urge the government to act:
Broadcaster and campaigner Carol Vorderman said, “I’m 63 and have never been on a protest before. This is my first ever march. That is how much the disgraceful privatised abuse of our water system matters to me. I can’t wait to add my voice to thousands on the day and share Carol’s Poolution by Numbers!”
Comedian and angler Paul Whitehouse, star of BBC’s hit-show Gone Fishing with Bob Mortimer, said, “Who likes dirty rivers? Not I. Lots of people love to use the rivers, waterways, and they’re under threat from agricultural pollution and from the water companies. So, there is a march taking place on Sunday, third of November – come and join.”
Star of The Crown on Netflix, Jim Murray, actor and activist angler, said, “The endangered Atlantic salmon is the pulse of our rivers and oceans, we must save the UK’s ‘black rhino’ from extinction.”
British businesswoman and star of Dragon’s Den Deborah Meaden said,“As a business leader deeply committed to sustainable investing and a passionate advocate for nature, it is clear that we must protect our precious waterways from pollution. No business should be allowed to profit at the expense of our rivers, seas, and lakes. It’s time for our elected leaders to take decisive action and restore our waterways to full health.”
Comedian Joe Lycett who made a television documentary about the terrible state of the UK’s sewage network (Channel 4’s Joe Lycett v Sewage) said, “Our rivers and seas are still, literally, shit. I fully support this brilliant campaign.”
Beccy Speight, RSPB chief executive, said:“The strength of public feeling is crystal clear, unlike our polluted rivers and waterways. An urgent, comprehensive and properly resourced response is long overdue.”
Hilary McGrady, Director General of the National Trust said,“Water is life. It’s fundamental to our health, our happiness, our heritage. But our rivers and waterways are in crisis. The public are outraged and want to see solutions.”
“Now’s the time for all leaders across all industries – from business to agriculture and of course politics – to step up their game and prove we can turn the tide on our polluted water. Sunday’s march is a crucial moment for change.”
Melissa Green, CEO of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes said:“The Women’s Institute proudly stands with the March for Clean Water, and WI members will be travelling from across the country to join forces on Sunday 3 November.
“We are a movement of women long known and respected for challenging the status quo and fighting for justice time and again. We are no strangers to campaigning to clean and protect our waterways – and the March for Clean Water is another chance to show our strength. We must ensure this opportunity is not wasted. Now is the time for bold, urgent action from the Government to deliver lasting solutions, and clean up our waters for people, wildlife and the environment.”
Richard Benwell, CEO of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said: “Polluted rivers are wounds in our landscape. They ought to be the lifeblood of UK ecosystems, nourishing communities and wildlife. Instead, they channel sewage, agricultural runoff and toxic chemicals through the countryside and cities to the sea. Healing rivers restores nature and builds a stronger society. That’s why so many people are gathering in support of tough action to make polluters pay, to stop pollution from every source, and to demand the urgent investment needed to clean up UK waters.”
Jamie Cook, CEO of Angling Trust said, “For over 75 years anglers have fought against pollution, this government must finally end the water pollution crisis before it’s too late.”
Hugo Tagholm, ocean activist and Executive Director of Oceana UK said, “Water companies have mismanaged their way to creating one of the greatest environmental stinks the UK has ever suffered. The sewage scandal has destroyed rivers, beaches, wildlife & livelihoods. Why give them a stay of execution with a review of the industry? Why not enforce the law in place to hold them to account, right now?”
Andy Prendergast, GMB National Secretary, said,“Water privatisation has been a disaster for everyone; sewage dumped in our beautiful waterways, billions of gallons lost to leaks every day and zero investment. Meanwhile fat cat directors and shareholders trouser millions of pounds. Water workers and bill payers are marching together to demand better.”
Giles Bristow, chief executive, Surfers Against Sewage said, “We’re marching because we’re sick of surfing in shit, it’s that simple. No more cover-ups, no more excuses, no more delays, we are here to reclaim our rivers, lakes and seas from the profiteering fat cats of the water industry and to demand an end to sewage pollution, for good. Keir Starmer, the pollution that stains the dirty money of the industry is a stain on the government too – we demand radical reform and you must deliver.”
Charles Watson, Chair of River Action, the organiser of the March for Clean Water, celebrated the diverse and inclusive nature of the March. He said, “This movement is unlike anything we’ve seen before. Families, communities, and organisations from across the UK are rising in outrage at the state of our rivers, lakes and seas. The Government’s first 100 days in power are up. The time for excuses is over. We’re here to hold the government accountable to the election promises previously made and make sure they deliver on them to clean up our long-suffering waterways for once and for all.”
This is not just a protest – it’s a movement
The March for Clean Water is a call to action for millions of people who care about the future of Britain’s waters. Join us on Sunday 3 November, wear blue, flood the streets and make your voice heard.
NOTES TO EDITOR
The March for Clean Water will be a legal, peaceful, family-friendly and inclusive demonstration. On Sunday 3 November, we will muster at Albert Embankment from 1100, and start marching at 1145. The rally will start in Parliament Square at 1330 and is due to finish by 1500.
More than 130 organisations have pledged their support for the march including the National Trust, RSPB, Wildlife Trusts, Women’s Institute, Extinction Rebellion, WWF, GMB Union, Greenpeace, Angling Trust, Rivers Trust, Wildfish, British Rowing, Good Law Project, Ilkley River Action Group, Save Windermere, Activist Anglers, Save the Wye Coalition and Henley Mermaids.
River Action is an environmental charity on a mission to rescue Britain’s rivers from the deluge of pollution that has left the majority of our waterways in a severely degraded ecological condition. Our campaigns to date have focussed on tackling the severe environmental crises created by both sewage and agricultural pollution.
Estimated number of supporters per organisation in the March for Clean Water coalition:
Revealed: A new billboard made of £50 notes, stained brown with sewage waste, symbolises the dirty profits of water companies, while separately exposing that Thames Water has dumped sewage into the Thames for 7,002 hours since January 2024.
Today, River Action, organising the November 3rd March for Clean Water, is launching a bold new advertising billboard in central London that highlights the shocking reality of water companies making billions while polluting the UK’s rivers, lakes, and seas.
Dubbed the ‘Pooster,’ the 48 sheet (3m high x 6m wide) billboard, is constructed from fake £50 notes, stained brown with sterilised manure and mixed with water from polluted beaches, rivers and streams across the UK, symbolising the dirtied profits that water companies continue to make at the expense of our environment. The ‘Pooster’ displays a bold caption: “This money is stained with crap, just like water company profits’.
This striking visual dirty protest comes as part of River Action’s wider campaign against water pollution and will be officially launched with a crowd of wild swimmers fed up with dirty money making water dirty at 10am on Monday 21 October ahead of the March for Clean Water, set to take place in central London on November 3rd. The billboard displayed at the junction of Harleyford Road and South Lambeth Road close to Vauxhall Station is a high-traffic area of central London to draw maximum attention to the issue.
The ‘Pooster’ exposes the uncomfortable truth: despite dividend payouts to shareholders totalling £72.9 billion over the last 33 years and excessive levels of executive pay and bonuses, water companies across the UK are failing to protect our waterways.
River Action reveals extent of Thames Water discharges
Today River Action can reveal that since January 1 2024, Thames Water, the ‘pooster’ child of the nation’s broken water and sewage system, alone has discharged at least 7,002 hours of untreated human sewage into the River Thames, equal to 291 days. A large number of these discharges are believed to have been unlawful. The shocking findings from River Action’s research come at a time when Thames Water is facing financial collapse having paid out billions to shareholders and unknown amounts of interest on its escalating debts since privatisation – at the expense of future-proofing its crumbling infrastructure.
Meanwhile, as river users and wildlife suffer the consequences of poisoned water, Thames Water has continued to award failure with CEO compensation packages reaching up to £1.71 million last year alone.
“Up to their necks in it” – River Action’s campaigns manager Amy Fairman
Head of Campaigns at River Action Amy Fairman said, “Water companies like Thames Water are up to their necks in it, treating our rivers, seas and lakes like open sewers. Meanwhile they squander bill payers cash with impunity, splashing it on shareholder dividends, bonuses for their bosses and paying huge levels of interest on their junk-rated debt.
“Our ‘Pooster’ drives home the point: the financial gains they make are filthy money. It’s time for change. The UK public is fed up with sewage-drenched waterways and our campaign demands urgent reform.”
Laura Reineke from the Henley Mermaids is attending the Pooster launch with her fellow wild swimmers, in bathing costumes and hats. She said,“Our beautiful river Thames is being used as an open sewer, the epically mismanaged monopoly that is Thames Water is in charge of our precious blue space. This has to change! We are fed up with swimming in poo. Freshwater species are declining at a rate of five times that of species that live on land, our biodiversity needs rescuing. Our river is visibly poorly, choking in chemical’s and suffocating in poo. This assault on our wildlife and our health has to stop, water should be run for the benefit of humans and the wildlife that calls it home.”
March for Clean Water, Sunday 3rd November
With public outrage at an all-time high, River Action’s billboard exposes the urgent need for reform in the water industry.
The campaign builds momentum ahead of the March for Clean Water, where thousands of people, alongside more than 100 organisations as diverse as the Women’s Institute, Extinction Rebellion and the National Trust, will demand action from the government against water polluters. Marchers are encouraged to wear blue, symbolising their fight for clean water.
River Action and a coalition of 100s of campaign groups want to see the robust enforcement of existing environmental laws with hefty fines for illegal pollution, the end of pollution for profit with no more excessive shareholder dividends and executive pay and the resourcing and reforming the environmental regulators so they can do their job, putting public benefit before facilitating private greed.
For safety reasons, unlike the carelessness of the water companies, the ‘Pooster’ was made using sterilised waste diluted with water collected from rivers, beaches, and streams across the UK.
The source for the figure of 7,002 hours of discharges by Thames Water (taken from Faringdon in Oxfordshire to Dartford in Kent) so far in 2024 was calculated on 15/10/2024 using this: https://www.sewagemap.co.uk/
River Action is an environmental charity on a mission to rescue Britain’s rivers from the deluge of pollution that has left the majority of our waterways in a severely degraded ecological condition. Our campaigns to date have focussed on tackling the severe environmental crises created by both sewage and agricultural pollution.
The March for Clean Water will be a legal, peaceful, family-friendly and inclusive demonstration. On Sunday 3rd November, we will muster at Albert Embankment from 1100, and start marching at 1145. The rally will start in Parliament Square at 1330 and is due to finish by 1500.
To date, more than 100 organisations have pledged their support for the march including the National Trust, Women’s Institute, RSPB, Wildlife Trusts, Extinction Rebellion, Greenpeace, Angling Trust, Wildfish, British Rowing, Good Law Project, Clean Ilkley River Group, Activist Anglers, Save the Wye Coalition and Henley Mermaids.
River Action board member Alison Caffyn has been granted permission by the High Court to challenge Shropshire Council’s approval of a large-scale poultry production unit in the River Severn catchment.
The judicial review aims to halt the further spread of industrial scale intensive poultry production both in the county and the wider catchment of the River Severn.
The legal action is part of a wider campaign by River Action to use the law to prevent river pollution by intensive agricultural practices across the country.
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 action is being taken by Dr Alison Caffyn, who lives in Shropshire and is a member of River Action’s advisory board. Dr Caffyn is represented by the environment team at law firm Leigh Day.
In May, Shropshire Council approved an application by LJ Cooke & Son for a poultry production unit at Felton Butler, north-west of Shrewsbury.
The unit would house 230,000 birds, with Dr Caffyn arguing it is imperative to prevent “giant clusters of polluting poultry units” from being built.
An application was made for a judicial review into the council’s decision, arguing the council failed to take a number of issues into account, including the effects of spreading manure and the emissions from burning biomass.
The High Court has now granted permission on the following grounds:
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
River Action plans to appeal the High Court’s decision not to allow the judicial review action also to be argued on the following grounds:
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
Dr Caffyn and River Action say they consider Ground 3 the most important issue. It specifically concerns the potential for the development to adversely impact the integrity of designated protected sites, including Hencott Pool and Fenemere. The failure to properly assess these risks could lead to further deterioration of ecologically sensitive areas.
Charles Watson, Chairman and Founder of River Action said:
“Like an appalling car crash in slow motion, exactly the same set of tragic events is now unfolding in catchment of the River Severn as has happened recently in the neighbouring catchment of the River Wye. By recklessly waiving through permission for ever more giant intensive poultry units, Shropshire County Council is effectively pronouncing the death sentence on yet another iconic British river. The construction of these giant unsustainable pollution clusters, with no due consideration being given of their cumulative environmental impact, cannot be allowed to continue. We look forward to supporting this critical legal action through its next phase as it goes to court.”
Dr Alison Caffyn said:
“Shropshire Council has continued to grant planning permission for intensive poultry units across the county, despite increasing concern about the impacts on the Shropshire countryside and communities. The chicken population has grown so much that there are now nearly 65 chickens for every person in Shropshire. And it appears that the Council has not been properly assessing the impacts of all that extra manure and ammonia emissions on our rivers and special habitats. We need them to stop allowing ever more levels of unsustainable industrial agriculture in Shropshire.”
“The court’s decision to grant permission on two grounds is a crucial first step. However, the fact that permission was refused on Ground 3, which addresses the most pressing concern around protected sites, only strengthens our client’s resolve to see this fully challenged.
“So far, the approach adopted has allowed industrial concentrations of poultry and livestock to be reared in highly sensitive countryside locations, with devastating impacts on local ecosystems. Our client hopes that this legal challenge will set a strong precedent for local authorities nationwide, urging them to reassess the cumulative environmental impacts of developments like these. It’s clear there needs to be a complete rethink of how such planning decisions are made, especially where protected sites are at risk.”
ENDS
Notes to editor
For more information contact Leigh Day press office at pressoffice@leighday.co.uk or call Maxine Wolstenholme on 07775713725.
River Action is an environmental charity on a mission to rescue Britain’s rivers from the deluge of pollution that has left the majority of our waterways in a severely degraded ecological condition. Its campaigns to date have focused on tackling the severe environmental crises created by both sewage and agricultural pollution.
The March for Clean Water will be a legal, peaceful, family-friendly and inclusive demonstration. Timings will be confirmed in the run up to the event.To date, 100 organisations have pledged their support for the march including the National Trust, RSPB, Wildlife Trusts, Extinction Rebellion, Greenpeace, Angling Trust, Wildfish, British Rowing, Good Law Project, Ilkley River Action Group, Activist Anglers, Save the Wye Coalition and Henley Mermaids.
Due to a recently announced protest scheduled to take place in Central London on October 26th, the March for Clean Water will now be taking place on Sunday 3rd November.
Chair and Founder of River Action Charles Watson said, “Thousands of people and more than 90 charities, organisations and community groups have pledged their support to the family-friendly March for Clean Water. It promises to be a positive, loud and colourful demonstration of the public’s outrage at the dire state of the UK’s polluted rivers, seas and lakes. Join us on the streets of London on Sunday 3rd November to send a clear message to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer that the people of Great Britain will no longer tolerate the manner in which the making of dirty money has been allowed by the government to be prioritised at the expense of clean water.”
Melissa Green, CEO of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes said: “The Women’s Institute proudly stands with the March for Clean Water, and WI members will be travelling from across the country to join forces on Sunday 3rd November.
“We invite all our members who want to see decisive action to resolve the water crisis once and for all, to march alongside us. While we’re encouraged by the government’s response to our calls for a comprehensive review of the water system, we must ensure this opportunity is not wasted. Now is the time for bold, urgent action to deliver lasting solutions.”
Patrick Begg, Outdoors & Natural Resources Director at the National Trust said: “We are disappointed that the date of the march was forced to change, but remain fully supportive of this march which is now on Sunday 3rd November.
“Water is our most precious commodity, and we play fast and loose with it at our peril. Yet only 14 percent of rivers across England are in good ecological health, and severe droughts and floods have become more commonplace. Urgent action is needed.
“We urge the government to adopt a comprehensive source-to-sea water management strategy. This includes tackling pollution at its origin, whether from agriculture, industry or from sewage outflows. But is also means restoring peat bogs, creating more space for water in our landscapes, and reducing water waste – without which we won’t succeed in making our rivers healthier for both nature and people, or resilient in the face of a changing climate.”
Becky Malby, from the Ilkley Clean River Group, said, “At the March for Clean Water on 3rd November river users from across the nation will rally and send a unified message to the government of Sir Keir Starmer – we demand that you enforce existing environmental laws and prosecute the polluters responsible for the disgusting state of the UK’s rivers, seas and lakes.”
March for Clean Water, Central London on Sunday 3rd November
Thousands of people dismayed at the appalling state of Britain’s waterways will join the March for Clean Water in London on Sunday 3rd November. Groups as diverse as British Rowing, Extinction Rebellion, the National Trust and the Women’s Institute have backed the march.
Together they will send a clear message to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer: take immediate and decisive action to end the poisoning of our rivers, lakes and seas by the lethal cocktail of raw sewage, agricultural waste and other chemical pollutants, that over recent years have been allowed to leave most of our waterways so filthy that they present major risks to human health and untold damage to nature.
Notes to editors The March for Clean Water is on Sunday 3rd November. It will be a legal, peaceful, family-friendly and inclusive demonstration. Timings will be confirmed in the run up to the event.
River Action is an environmental charity on a mission to rescue Britain’s rivers from the deluge of pollution that has left the majority of our waterways in a severely degraded ecological condition. Our campaigns to date have focussed on tackling the severe environmental crises created by both sewage and agricultural pollution.
A coalition of the concerned are calling on everyone in the country angry at the state of water to join us to demand that our new government takes urgent action to address the UK’s alarming and dangerous water pollution crisis by marching through Central London on Sunday 3rd November.
The March for Clean Water, which is timed to mark the end of the first 100 days of the new government, when environmental campaigners will be watching closely for financial commitments to protect the environment, will involve scores of participating groups and well-known personalities, including river campaigner Feargal Sharkey.
They invite the public to join in one simple demand of Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer: to take immediate and decisive action to end the poisoning of our rivers,lakes and seas by the lethal cocktail of raw sewage, agricultural waste and other chemical pollutants, that over recent years have been allowed to leave most of our waterways so filthy that they present major risks to human health and untold damage to nature.
This must include:
a plan to address the continuous illegal dumping of raw sewage by the water companies;
a full set of solutions to end all other major sources of water pollution;
the reform of our failed regulatory system, including Ofwat and the Environment Agency, so the law can be effectively enforced against polluters
We urge everyone who cares about clean water to unite and march through central London to Parliament Square on Sunday 3rd November. The march is inclusive, accessible, step free and everyone is welcome to join. Marchers are encouraged to wear blue to symbolise clean water; to let their creativity run free and bring noise, placards, puppets, posters, banners, costumes, marching bands and musical instruments.
Whilst the introduction of a Water Bill in the King’s Speech on 17th July is welcome, the proposed initiatives revealed so far to improve water quality are not nearly extensive enough to address the scale of the UK’s water pollution crisis. It is therefore essential that this prospective legislation includes a comprehensive set of measures to end all causes of water pollution and to do so now.
The March for Clean Water is coordinated by River Action and Feargal Sharkey in close collaboration with Surfers Against Sewage and major charities and governing bodies including the Clean Water Sports Alliance, British Rowing, British Canoeing, Greenpeace, RSPB, The Women’s Institute, The Wildlife Trusts, Angling Trust, SOS Whitstable, Wildlife and Countryside Link, The Rivers Trust, Ilkley Clean River Group, Soil Association, Windrush Against Sewage Pollution and many local community groups from across the country.
Quote from River Campaigner Feargal Sharkey:
“We call on the Government to end the environmental devastation being inflicted upon our rivers, lakes and seas. It stops here, it stops today, it stops now. End pollution, end polluting for profit. Government must order an urgent root and branch review of the failed oversight and regulation of the water industry. It is now time to hold to account those industries that for too long now have been allowed to knowingly and wantonly pollute our waters driven by nothing more than profit and greed. We call on everyone in the country who is concerned or angry at the state of our waters to join us and march.”
Quote from Chair and Founder of River Action, Charles Watson:
“The initial noises coming out of our new government regarding cleaning up our filthy waterways, whilst encouraging, do not nearly go far enough to deal with the scale of the problem they have inherited. Nothing short of wholescale reform of our failed regulatory system and comprehensive strategies to address all major sources of pollution, including sewage discharges and agricultural run-off, will suffice. On the 3rd November the public will make this point very clear to Sir Keir Starmer in no uncertain terms.”
Background to the UK’s water pollution crisis can be found in this hard-hitting short film narrated by Stephen Fry.
For more information about attending the March for Clean Water visit marchforcleanwater.org
ENDS
For media interviews call Ian at River Action on 07377 547 362 or email media@riveractionuk.com
Notes to editors The March for Clean Water is on Sunday 3rd November. It will be a legal, peaceful, family-friendly and inclusive demonstration to send a simple message to the newly elected Labour Government: it is your job to end the poisoning of our rivers, lakes and seas. The march is planned to assemble at a central London location and will end at Parliament Square. Timings will be confirmed in the run up to the event.
River Action is an environmental charity on a mission to rescue Britain’s rivers from the deluge of pollution that has left the majority of our waterways in a severely degraded ecological condition. Our campaigns to date have focussed on tackling the severe environmental crises created by both sewage and agricultural pollution.
Responding to massive enforcement penalties imposed by Ofwat on three water companies Thames Water, Yorkshire Water and Northumbrian Water totalling £168 million, Chair and Founder of River Action Charles Watson said, “Last year sewage was discharged across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales more than 596,666 times. That’s over 1,600 times a day – and with many of these discharges being illegal, this situation is completely unacceptable.
“Thankfully the water regulator, for so long toothless, is finally waking up to the scale of the public’s outrage and we are starting to see some meaningful penalties being imposed upon the worst offenders. However, remember that the water industry was able to find more than £1.4 billion to hand out to their shareholders in dividends last year, which gives context to these fines. Until the ability of these polluting companies to hand out so much cash is severely curtailed, pollution will continue to be a highly profitable activity with inadequate incentives for the water companies to fix their creaking infrastructure and stop filling our rivers with raw sewage.
ENDS
For media interviews call Ian at River Action on 07377 547 362 or email media@riveractionuk.com
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
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:
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
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.
