Water testing along the River Blyth

Wil Harvey

Saturday

Purpose of the Project:

To characterise as far as possible the nature, extent and origins of pollutants in the River Blyth, and the Wenhaston watercourse (a tributary of the Blyth), and to track changes over an extended period.

Reasons:

  1. A national background of widespread damage to our river systems through pollution by human activity,
  2. Lack of adequate testing by the Environment Agency
  3. Knowledge that our relevant Water Company (Anglian Water) discharges treated sewage effluent and untreated sewage with rain water run-off into the Blyth via CSOs (Combined Storm Overflows) at several points
  4. Potential for an agricultural contribution (fertilisers, pesticides, animal waste)

Currently testing:

  1. Nitrates
  2. Phosphates
  3. pH
  4. Dissolved oxygen
  5. Ammonia
  6. Dissolved solids (via conductivity)
  7. Bacterial load (general and specifically, E. Coli)

Outcomes:

  1. To alert and inform the local population of the state of pollution in these rivers
  2. To use the data to reduce pollution by working to change local practices (domestic/agricultural) causing it
  3. To use the data to exert pressure on the Water Company and politicians to reduce pollution

Preliminary data indicate significant pollution in all stretches of these two rivers tested so far.

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