Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Hamas official says despite this, Hamas leadership is currently undertaking a thorough review of the new proposal
Hamas official says the response fails to meet any of the just and legitimate demands of our people
Hamas official says it is clear that the Israeli response fundamentally seeks to entrench the occupation
Reuters citing Hamas official: Group received Israeli response to Witkoff proposal
Sources to Al Mayadeen: The news regarding a press conference tonight by the head of the Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip, Khalil Al-Hayya, is false.
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One person was martyred in an Israeli drone strike on the outskirts of Nabatieh al-Fawqa
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The death toll in the al-Bureij camp massacre has risen to 19
Nicolas Maduro: Maria Corina Machado and imperialism wanted to spread violence and chaos so there would be no elections.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro: We were able to neutralize 60 attacks on oil refineries and oil facilities and arrest more than 70 individuals involved.
CNN citing sources: Talks between Washington and Tehran are close to reaching a comprehensive agreement that could be concluded during the next meeting.

Raw sewage, farming pollution blight 90% of England’s rivers

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: The Observer/The Guardian
  • 14 Aug 2023 12:04
5 Min Read

An investigation by The Observer reveals the appalling condition of the nation's protected freshwater areas of exceptional scientific importance.

  • x
  • While the river Wharfe in Ilkley was England’s first bathing river, UK's official swimming rivers are too polluted to swim in. (AFP)
    People on the banks of the River Wharfe in Ilkley (AFP)

According to an Observer investigation, farmed pollution, raw sewage, and water abstraction have negatively impacted more than 90% of the freshwater habitats on England's most valuable rivers.

A study of official inspection records reveals that none of England's 40 or so rivers with protected ecosystems are in generally good condition. These include the Wensum River in Norfolk, the River Eden in Cumbria, and the Rivers Avon in Hampshire.

Only 9.9% of these ecosystems on sites of special scientific interest (SSSI) are in favorable condition, according to recent government statistics. Freshwater habitats, as well as surrounding forests, marsh, and fenland, are all included in the SSSI designation. Comparatively, the condition of protected habitats on beaches and estuaries is favorable in 59.4% of cases. According to The Observer's investigation, freshwater environments are most in danger due to a mixture of pollution from sewage discharges, microplastics, and agricultural runoff, as well as harmful human interventions like dredging.

Only 23 (9%) of the 256 freshwater habitat assessments on the 38 English rivers that are SSSIs were in favorable condition, indicating that they are in a healthy state and are being protected by suitable management.

Charles Watson, founder and chair of the charity River Action believes this "is an utter disgrace." "These should be the most protected river catchments in the country, but there has been a total failure of regulation," he added.

Due to a lack of funding, certain SSSI river segments have not been surveyed since 2010. Volunteers from all around the nation are stepping up to assess the condition of their local rivers and are urging the government to take action in response to what they see as an insufficient inspection system.

The government, according to campaigners, is not treating the issue seriously enough. SSSIs are intended to protect England's most significant natural heritage places, and Natural England, the conservation watchdog, is required by law to do so. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), however, stated that it was unable to "get this specific dataset" when The Observer requested "a list of rivers in England which are sites of special scientific interest and their current status" more than a week ago.

On the River Avon, just two of the 17 river and stream segments designated as protected ecosystems are in good shape. According to a September 2021 evaluation, "water quality fails on several indicators."

At every location where monitoring data is available, River Wensum has an excessive concentration of phosphorus. The rapid growth of some plants and algae blooms that harm habitats can be brought on by an excess of nutrients in the water.

Thirty-five waterways along the River Eden and its tributaries in Cumbria are designated as protected habitats. None of them are in good shape. 

Related News

Car rams into crowd at Liverpool's title parade; suspect detained

British MP admits he 'got it wrong' on 'Israel', withdraws support

According to assessments, there are multiple stretches that "exceed the phosphorus target" and physical obstacles to salmon migration. The Eden Rivers Trust, a nonprofit organization, has been striving to preserve and revitalize the river.

All six of Hampshire's SSSI-designated River Itchen stretches are deemed unfavorable. "Water quality measurements show phosphorus concentrations to be exceeding the targets in most units," according to a Natural England paper.

The River Kennet has four assessed stretches. All four are rated as unfavorable, but with a plan to restore the river's health, they are seen to be recovering.

Low water flow, sewage treatment system discharges, and channel modification such as dredging, according to a June 2022 Natural England assessment, have been long-term problems.

After a campaign against the negative effects of industrial chicken raising and volunteers' river sampling in May, the River Wye's quality was downgraded. All four SSSI units and all seven stretches of the Wye assessed as SSSIs are currently classified as "unfavorable-declining".

The majority of the major SSSI rivers are covered by a collaborative river restoration initiative between the Environment Agency and Natural England, with projects ongoing all throughout the nation. The program covers roughly 30 rivers and their catchments. 

According to a report on water bodies released in September 2020 as part of the EU Water Framework Directive, 14% of the rivers in England had high ecological conditions, but none had a good status for chemicals.

No rivers satisfied the requirements since a river must be rated as good in all categories to be considered good overall.

Government target dates for water bodies to achieve good chemical and ecological status range from 2027 to 2063.

Natural England’s chair, Tony Juniper, said many of England's rivers "are under huge pressure, from over-abstraction to chemical pollution and from physical modification, to now, also, the effects of global heating. Many of the pressures causing river health to decline, such as runoff from fields, can arise some distance away from our sites of special scientific interest, but cause damage nonetheless," adding that they have to be "working together with partners to deliver solutions that work for farmers, landowners and industry and the environment on which we all depend."

Read next: Target to clean UK water bodies pushed back 30 years - 2027 to 2063

  • England
  • rivers
  • farming
  • Pollution
  • Water pollution

Most Read

US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump tensions

US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump pressures

  • US & Canada
  • 25 May 2025
Rep. Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay, answers a question about his House Bill 3-C: Independent Special Districts in the House of Representatives April 20, 2022, at the Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida (AP/Phil Sears)

GOP lawmaker says Gaza needs same end as WWII Japan, with nukes

  • MENA
  • 23 May 2025
President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrive to a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington (AP)

Rift widens: Trump, Netanyahu clash in heated phone call over Iran

  • Politics
  • 26 May 2025
Iran advisor reveals details of US-Iran nuclear talks to Al Mayadeen

Iran advisor reveals details of US-Iran nuclear talks: Al Mayadeen

  • MENA
  • 24 May 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Palestinians cross from the Israeli military Qalandia checkpoint near the West Bank city of Ramallah to occupied al-Quds on Friday, March 14, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli regime arrests martyr Walid Daqqa's wife Sanaa

Spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announces a new operation against Ben Gurion Airport on May 29, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)
Politics

Yemen announces successful hypersonic missile strike on Ben Gurion

An Israeli army vehicle moves in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 29, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Hamas rejects Witkoff ceasefire plan, says alters terms

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attends a news conference following his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, Russia, Friday, April 18, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran denounces media speculation, reaffirms conditions for any US deal

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS