32. Point source pollution project

Aims: Involve people with their local waterbodies; Improve water quality; Work together

Water body: the whole catchment

Project description

Mapping and verifying the entry points of pollution into our rivers.

Awareness of the impact of pollution on our UK rivers is growing fast but hidden sources of pollution are undermining efforts to protect our natural environment. This project supports critical river restoration work by identifying and mapping hidden pollution inputs so that we can work towards monitoring and removing them permanently.
“Hidden” inputs can be anything from forgotten sewer outfall pipes, road drainage or agricultural runoff to low lying areas where pollution can accumulate before being washed into rivers by heavy rain.
Knowing where these points are gives us a unique resource for tracing potential inputs after pollution events are reported, allowing us to begin the process of reporting and seeking to eliminate them.
Currently information on pollution sources is incomplete and spread across multiple databases owned by a variety of institutions. The strength of this project is in the unification of those diverse sources of information, and the way we are verifying map data on the ground.
With the initial data and mapping phases now successfully completed, we are beginning the third practical validation phase of the project which is open to collaboration from anyone with an interest in local river health via use of our reporting app to tag and classify potential pollution inputs.
Core funding for this work has been kindly provided by our local water companies in recognition of the environmental importance of the project in reducing groundwater pollution which is a major driver of river health as well as drinking water safety and treatment cost. For more information on this project or to get involved contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Project lead: Groundwork South

Project partners: Colne Valley Anglers Consultative, Chilterns National Landscape,ColneCan, Harrow Streams Project, Brunel University, River Chess Association, Watford Borough Council, London Borough of Hillingdon, Spelthorne Borough

Contact for more information: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Project start: January 2023

Funding source: Thames Water , Affinity Water