Harefield was the focus of media attention last week with representatives from BBC London News Channel4 News and Reuters all gathered to see the polluted River Colne. 

A delegation of activists was interviewed by Tom Edwards, Environment Correspondent for BBC London; and representatives of Channel4 news. The interviews took place in Harefield on 27th March on the Colne to highlight the problem of sewage discharges. As they were being interviewed all six main rivers in the Colne Catchment were being impacted by sewage discharges. The views of the Colne were horrendous.

Those interviewed were local resident John Walker, Paul Jennings River Chess Association, Cat Montcrief Chiltern Society and John Pritchard Ver Valley Society.

John Walker is a resident of Harefield who describes himself as having a keen interest in local natural history and conservation. He had written to his MP about the very poor state of the local River Colne, one of several local chalk streams threatened by persistent and damaging sewage discharges.
He had taken a video on 16th March at the Coy Carp pub in Harefield. It shows a heavy, blanketing growth of what is known as sewage fungus in the River Colne; the growth covers every available surface, including water weed and the river bed itself. Sewage Fungus is a noxious combination of bacteria and micro-organisms that can tolerate low-oxygen, heavily polluted water.

Paul Jennings said:
‘We need a radical rethink on this issue, not just the current issues but also emerging problems like pharmaceuticals, forever chemicals, micro plastics, climate change and population growth. Processing wastewater to drinking water quality would address two ends of the water quandary.’

More Information on local river pollution

Sewage Discharges Colne Catchment 2024 Data Sheet

Sewage Pollution of the River Misbourne: its cause and effect