NEWS
INDEX
The number of News articles on this page was getting out of hand. News articles will now be divided amongst six catagories as below.
Click on these links to be taken to the appropriate web page.
The New Zealand river that became a legal person
In 2017, New Zealand granted legal personhood to the Whanganui River. Since then, other nations have followed suit in an effort to protect the environment. click link: The New Zealand river that became a legal person - BBC Travel
Give legal rights to animals, trees and rivers, say experts
Report for Law Society says framework is essential for future interactions with the environment and biotechnology.Granting legal rights and protections to non-human entities such as animals, trees and rivers is essential if countries are to tackle climate breakdown and biodiversity loss, experts have said
click link:Give legal rights to animals, trees and rivers, say experts | Environment | The Guardian
Sceptic viewpoint:Why I’m sceptical about giving legal rights to animals, trees and rivers | Letters | The Guardian
River Ouse may become first in England to gain legal rights
The River Ouse is on course to be the first river in England to be granted legal rights, as part of a growing movement to bolster protection for nature through the law. Guardian Mar 1 2023
Click link: River Ouse may become first in England to gain legal rights | Rivers | The Guardian
Why it's time to talk about Poo
The nutrients in human waste are drifting down our rivers anto into our oceans instead of back into soils. But there are much better uses for human poo than flushing it down the drain. click link: Why it's time to talk about poo - BBC Future
UK Water Firms Discharge Sewage into Rivers
English water companies were responsible for the discharge of raw sewage into rivers and streams on more than 200,000 occasions in 2019. click link: UK Water Firms Discharge Sewage into Rivers Envirotech Online (envirotech-online.com)
‘This is what a river should look like’:
Dutch rewilding project turns back the clock 500 years
Europe’s largest river restoration is making changes across the entire landscape, bringing benefits to wildlife and people
click link:
Volunteers can’t save our rivers from this tide of filth
Citizen scientists are no replacement for an underfunded and toothless Environment Agency
click link: Volunteers can’t save our rivers from this tide of filth | Letters | The Guardian
UK environment laws under threat in ‘deregulatory free-for-all’
Hundreds of Britain’s environmental laws covering water quality, sewage pollution, clean air, habitat protections and the use of pesticides are lined up for removal from UK law under a government bill.
click link: UK environment laws under threat in ‘deregulatory free-for-all’ | Environment | The Guardian
Read National Trust Statement in response:
The RSPB has also reponded with Action
click link: Stop the attack on nature
Government would make 'terrible mistake' by scrapping strict protections for nature, ex-cabinet minister warns
The BMC (British Mountaineering Council) have also reponded:
Over the past few days there have been a number of political announcements that have stoked widespread anger from the environmental sector. These include Government moving towards weakening laws that protect our environment, a relaxation of laws that govern planning, a renewed interest in fracking and reports that Government may be rethinking the future of farm payments with a focus on food protection and little more. Here's how we're taking action, and how you can too.
Click link: Taking action to protect our access to nature (thebmc.co.uk)
Economic argument for the importance and benefits of Nature in UK
Nature is not an impediment to UK economic growth: it’s vital to it
click link: Nature is not an impediment to UK economic growth: it’s vital to it | Tony Juniper | The Guardian
Over 105,000 incidents of untreated sewage being dumped into Welsh rivers
A report by the Senedd’s Climate Change Committee is calling on the Welsh Government to take urgent action to tackle sewage discharges made by water companies into Welsh rivers. Published 14/03/2022
click link: Over 105,000 incidents of untreated sewage being dumped into Welsh rivers (senedd.wales)
River pollution: Shake-up call for investigations in Wales
Thousands of small-scale spills are not even being looked into, adding up to a "massive issue".
click link: River pollution: Shake-up call for investigations in Wales - BBC News
Similarly - The Environment Agency (EA) has been accused of allowing water firms to pollute England's rivers.
click link: Water firms allowed to 'get away with polluting rivers' - BBC News
River Wear in Durham to be cleared of litter
A litter-strewn section of the River Wear is set to be cleared of debris after a local campaign.
click link: River Wear in Durham to be cleared of litter after Natural England approval | The Northern Echo
New commission aims to restore river Wye and Lugg water quality
Ways to restore the water quality of rivers running though Herefordshire are to be looked at. A commission enabling the county council to work with other local authorities and agencies to improve the rivers Wye and Lugg has been set up. Both rivers are struggling with high levels of nutrients, mainly phosphates, which affect water quality and eco-balance, the council has said. It aims to protect the wildlife habitats. Work on the water quality restoration is expected to be complete by March 2023.
click link: New commission aims to restore river Wye and Lugg water quality - BBC News
also: River Wye: Why the impending ‘death’ of one of the UK’s longest and best loved rivers should worry us all (inews.co.uk)
and: Local farmers lead clean up of phosphate polluted river - Farmers Weekly (fwi.co.uk)
and: New 'roadmap' from poultry processor to clean up River Wye - Farmers Weekly (fwi.co.uk)
and: Chicken supplier Avara frustrated by pollution response - BBC News
and: River Wye pollution prompts High Court review - BBC News
and: River Wye users 'could make legal claim against poultry farms' | Hereford Times
Water companies could face £250m fines if they 'don't deliver' on cutting sewage dumping
Ranil Jayawardena's plan involves lifting the current £250,000 cap on Environment Agency fines for water firms that breach environmental rules
Farming: New Welsh rules on reducing river pollution delayed
Controversial rules aimed at reducing agricultural pollution in rivers are being delayed by three months, the Welsh government has announced. 5 October 2022
click link: Farming: New Welsh rules on reducing river pollution delayed - BBC News
Catastrophic effect of warming temperatures on river life in Wales
A 42-year-long study carried out in 14 streams in the Cambrian Mountains has revealed the catastrophic effect of warming water temperatures on Wales’ river life.
click link: Catastrophic effect of warming temperatures on river life in Wales - Wales Online
Study finds sewage bacteria in ocean spray
After a rainstorm passes, the air coming off the ocean just feels different – cleaner and fresher. But a first of its kind study shows how bacteria from sewage in the oceancan get whipped up in salt spray and blow into coastal communities miles away, a phenomenon exacerbated by storm runoff.
click link: Not a breath of fresh air: study finds sewage bacteria in ocean spray | US news | The Guardian
Britons urged to help monitor state of rivers, streams and canals
Over three days this weekend (14-16 October 2022) people are being asked to visit their local river, lake or stream and make a series of observations about pollution, plastic litter, invasive species that may be present and wildlife in and around the water.
click link: Britons urged to help monitor state of rivers, streams and canals | Rivers | The Guardian
Get full details and download the App from the Planet Patrol Web Site
click link: Autumn Water Watch - Planet Patrol - formerly Plastic Patrol
Reconnecting the Salmon rivers of Wales / Ailgysylltu Afonydd Eog Cymru
This project aims to remove 17 disused barriers to reconnect 141 km of fragmented river habitats across Wales in five iconic Atlantic salmon rivers: the Western and Eastern Cleddau, the Usk, the Tywi, and the Teifi. Reconnecting quality habitats will make these fish populations less isolated and make our rivers more resilient to future change.
click link: Reconnecting the Salmon rivers of Wales / Ailgysylltu Afonydd Eog Cymru | West Wales Rivers Trust
Exmoor river to be liberated in pioneering project
The idea of this “Stage 0” restoration project is to create the conditions for a landscape that is better for flora and fauna, with the slower water flow making flooding less likely.
click link: ‘Like a computer reset’: Exmoor river to be liberated in pioneering project | Rivers | The Guardian
Cumbria is ahead of the river curve: The second programme in Simon Reeves’ BBC TV series The Lakes features similar projects in Cumbria that are well under way, making a huge positive impact.
Anglian Water fined £1.2 million over pollution in eastern England
The Environment Agency has said Anglian Water admitted causing pollution at inland freshwaters on several occasions.
click link: Anglian Water fined £1.2 million over pollution in eastern England | The Independent
Also: Anglian Water fined £350,000 after Cambs sewer burst six times over several years
England is finally protecting the beavers that could save our failing rivers
Beavers are akeystone species, which means they exert a disproportionately important effect on the larger ecosystem. They engineer abundant river systems, the likes of which we haven’t seen for a lifetime. Studies show that active beaver wetlands can welcome up toa third more speciesacross the food chain, compared to wetlands without beavers.
click link: Beavers can help Britain fight the climate crisis – if we welcome them back | Sophie Pavelle | The Guardian
Also: Plans to reintroduce beavers on Shropshire estate next year
Anglian Water fined £1.2m for causing pollution
System and maintenance failures led to incidents in Cambridgeshire, Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire in 2019, the Environment Agency (EA) said.
click link: Anglian Water fined £1.2m for causing pollution - BBC News
Also: Sewage discharge data in north Norfolk questioned by council | Eastern Daily Press (edp24.co.uk)
A;so: West Norfolk water supply contained nitrates | Eastern Daily Press (edp24.co.uk)
Scrapping farm nature payments may worsen English river pollution up to 20%
Weakening or scrapping the nature-friendly farmingpayment schemescould increase river pollution by up to 20%, an analysis has found.
The payments are due to replace the EU’s area-based payments scheme, in which farmers are paid for the amount of land they manage. The new system would instead pay land managers to provide “public goods” such as enhanced nature and clean rivers.
click link: Scrapping farm nature payments may worsen English river pollution up to 20% | Rivers | The Guardian
River pollution: phosphate pollution is causing "serious damage" to rivers
Experts say more phosphate, found in animal and human waste, is getting into rivers and affecting water quality.
Tougher rules on phosphate river pollution targets have been brought in - but that could affect 100,000 new-build homes in England and Wales.
Developers want governments to take urgent action to find a solution.
click link: River pollution: New phosphate rules hit thousands of planned new homes - BBC News
Poppit SeaGals Campaign Launch 7 Nov
At St Dogmaels Memorial hall at 7pm.
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- Watch a Screening of the Rivercide Documentary
- A Talk about the West Wales Rivers Trust
- Campaign Launch to take action to protect the River Teifi and Poppit Sands
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click link: SeaGals Poster Campaign Launch
See their Facebook page: Poppit Seagals Campaign | Facebook
Surfers Against Sewage: We’re facing a second wave of sewage pollution
We’ve revealed the scale of sewage being discharged into bathing waters across the country this summer.We’ve been investigating the extent to which sewage is making us sick. And we’ve been using intelligence from our Safer Seas & Rivers Service to investigate when (over the last 12 months) sewage has been dumped into our most popular beaches when there has been no rain, indicating potential illegal activity.
click link: Home - Surfers Against Sewage • Water Quality Report 2022 (sas.org.uk)
See also: Water companies dumping sewage during dry weather, SAS report finds | Water | The Guardian
and: Wild swimmers are getting sick from sewage, campaigners say - BBC News
and: South West Water told to deal with waste water discharges - BBC News
Water firms may owe UK customers £163m for spillages, say experts
Water companies could be forced to pay their customers hundreds of millions in fines due to sewage pollution, a leading firm specialising in corporate wrongdoing has said.
click link: Water firms may owe UK customers £163m for spillages, say experts | Water | The Guardian
Water chiefs blame UK government for failure to stop sewage pollution
Water company bosses have blamed UK government inaction for a lack of progress in stopping sewage pollution, newly revealed letters show.
click link: Water chiefs blame UK government for failure to stop sewage pollution | Pollution | The Guardian
see also: Ofwat attacks water firms’ lack of investment to cut sewage discharges | Water | The Guardian
More than 70% of English water industry is in foreign ownership
Guardian unpicks complex web of investment firms, wealth funds and tax haven-based businesses that own most of sector
click link: Revealed: more than 70% of English water industry is in foreign ownership | Water | The Guardian
and: Following the money in the privatised water industry | Water | The Guardian
All 22 Wales Blue Flag Award beaches can keep their status next year
Wales has once again published stellar results for its bathing water quality standards, with 99% compliance and 85 of the 106 water bodies assessed achieving the top grade; including Poppit Sands.
click link: All 22 Wales Blue Flag Award beaches can keep their status next year (nation.cymru)
However this article from Kent has some salutary information:
Beach rated 'excellent' despite being pumped with sewage for 500 hours - Kent Live
Welsh Water amongst companies "letting down" customers and the environment
BBC reported on 12-Dec-2022 that Several water companies in England and Wales are "letting down their customers and the environment" the industry regulator said on Thursday. In its annual review Ofwat said that despite some improvements it remains deeply concerned.
This year water companies have come under increasing scrutiny followingnumerous pollution incidents from untreated sewagein rivers.
click link: Water companies "letting down" customers and the environment - BBC News
also: Public patience is wearing thin. Ofwat must wield the big stick | Nils Pratley | The Guardian
Water company performance report 2021-22: Worst performing water and wastewater companies called out in latest Ofwat assessments - Ofwat
Another link about Ofwatch: Watchdog to block shareholder payouts if UK water companies miss targets | Water | The Guardian
Livestock farming polluted rivers 300 times in one year
Livestock farms in England polluted rivers 300 times last year, causing 20 major incidents, according to the latest government figures.
Yet only six farms were prosecuted in 2021, with the Environment Agency giving out warning letters instead.
click link: Livestock farming polluted rivers 300 times in one year - BBC News
NRW Project to help the Teifi: Restoring LIFE back into four rivers in Wales
The largest conservation project to help restore wildlife on four important rivers in South Wales was launched on Friday 28 October 2022.
The Four Rivers for LIFE Project is led by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and will protect, enhance and help restore the Rivers Teifi, Tywi, Cleddau and Usk. An estimated 776km of river will be improved.
click link: Natural Resources Wales / Restoring LIFE back into four rivers in Wales
This project is based on a similar project that has proven very successfull on the River Dee
click link: Natural Resources Wales / NRW launches £6.8 million LIFE Dee River project
Here are a some YouTube videos about the Dee River project:
Target date for cleaning up waterways in England is moved back by 36 years
Targets to clean up the majority of England’s rivers, lakes and coastal waters suffering from a cocktail of agricultural and sewage pollution have been pushed back from 2027 to 2063.
click link: Target date for cleaning up waterways in England is moved back by 36 years | Environment | The Guardian
See also: New legally binding environment targets set out - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
and: Government approves plan to improve health of UK waterways - BirdGuides
Citizen scientists join fight to clean up rivers
According to the environmental charity Earthwatch, people are increasingly taking pollution monitoring into their own hands.
click link: Citizen scientists join fight to clean up rivers - BBC News
NRW Core Management Plans For Rivers Not Fit For Purpose
Afonydd Cymru have written (on 30th November, 2022) to Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales about the latter’s updated Core Management Plans for Welsh SAC rivers. Having reviewed the Core Managment Plans for all the SAC rivers, the main observation is that there has been no measurable improvement in terms of status for any of the SAC river features, with the exception of otters. This reflects poorly on the ability of Natural Resources Wales to drive improvement in the natural environment.
click link: NRW Core Management Plans For Rivers Not Fit For Purpose | Afonydd Cymru
An introduction to your Local Environmental Record Centre - 17 Jan 2023
In this Free online webinar, we will introduce you to your Local Environmental Record Centre, who we are and what we do, and discuss how we can work together to create a well recorded Wales. West Wales Biodiversity Information Centre (WWBIC) manage a species database for Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, and Ceredigion. They rely on the recording community, most of whom are volunteers, to share their records with them so they can build up a database of species information. This species database provides essential evidence to help put biodiversity at the heart of decision making. Ceredigion Local Nature Partnership invites you to this Biological Recording Training which will help you make the most of WWBIC resources, and help you be a better wildlife recorder. For details of what the webinar will cover, please see attached invitation. The training is FREE, should last around an hour and will be delivered through Microsoft Teams on Tuesday 17th of January at 7pm.
You can book your place through
Eventbrite click link: Who are WWBIC? An introduction to your Local Environmental Record Centre Tickets, Tue 17 Jan 2023 at 19:00 | Eventbrite
'Authorities leave Teifi exposed to repeat major pollution'
CEREDIGION County Council and Natural Resources Wales have left the River Teifi vulnerable to further cases of pollution in the six years following a major incident on the waterway.
click link: 'Authorities leave Teifi exposed to repeat major pollution' | Tivyside Advertiser
Thames Water’s real-time map shows scale of sewage dumps
Data reveals many hundreds of hours of discharges via storm overflows in some locations. After growing pressure from campaigners and the public, Thames Water has created an interactive map showing sewage dumping via storm overflows in real time.
click link: ‘Streams as toilets’: Thames Water’s real-time map shows scale of sewage dumps | Rivers | The Guardian
Also: Gloucestershire River Coln: Sewage discharge criticised - BBC News
Water companies must clean up their act – and our rivers
Telegraph View: 13 January 2023 • 6:00am - We need a national plan to clean up the nation’s waterways.
click link: Water companies must clean up their act – and our rivers (telegraph.co.uk)
But Regulators don’t know how much sewage is being pumped into rivers
However: Most treatment works are not equipped to monitor how much wastewater they are processing, calling into question the legality of their overflows. Even where meters were in place to record how much waste was being treated and discharged, there were failures to check they were working properly or to make best use of them.
see this link: Regulators don't know how much sewage is being pumped into UK rivers because of a lack of sensors (inews.co.uk)
Welsh Government conducting feasibility study on reintroduction of beavers
The results of a study on the possible reintroduction of beavers in Wales are due to be presented this spring.
click link: Welsh Government conducting feasibility study on reintroduction of beavers to Wales (nation.cymru)
Farmers’ union called UK environment targets ‘irrational’ and ‘unachievable’
The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) raised questions about the government’s proposed targets on water pollution, tree planting and rewilding, calling them “irrational” and “unachievable”, according to documents published by the environment department.
click link: Farmers’ union called UK environment targets ‘irrational’ and ‘unachievable’ | Farming | The Guardian
Study finds small isolated wetlands are pollution-catching powerhouses
Small isolated wetlands that are full for only part of the year are often the first to be removed for development or agriculture, but a new study shows that they can be twice as effective in protecting downstream lake or river ecosystems than if they were connected to them.
click link: Study finds small isolated wetlands are pollution-catching powerhouses (phys.org)
An Integrated Constructed Wetland (ICW) has been created on 15ha of land in the Stiffkey catchment to provide a sustainable, low-carbon, natural wastewater treatment system that will also boost biodiversity.
click link: Norfolk Rivers Trust | Stiffkey Integrated Constructed Wetland
Note however that half the wetlands in Europe have been lost in past 300 years
click link: Half the wetlands in Europe lost in past 300 years, researchers calculate | Biodiversity | The Guardian
Raw sewage meeting to be full house in Shrewsbury
Campaign group Up Sewage Creek and Shrewsbury Town Council are hosting the meeting at Theatre Severn on Monday, February 27. All the tickets for the 250-seat Walker Theatre have been snapped up.
click link: Raw sewage meeting to be full house in Shrewsbury | Shropshire Star
Shrewsbury seeks solutions to River Severn pollution
About 250 people attended the meeting and afterwards Ms Halliday said she believed there would be some "small, gradual changes" but they were not enough. She said there needed to be a "push at the local level" and suggested Shrewsbury might want to set itself a target of achieving bathing water status.
Clink link: Shrewsbury seeks solutions to River Severn pollution - BBC News
Llanina Wastewater Treatment Works Open Day - Thu 23rd March
Following multiple requests from various stakeholders, Welsh Water have arranged a specific Ceredigion based Wastewater Treatment Works Open Day. Initially offering the sessions to parties who have voiced interest they will extend to others if spaces allow.
Attendees will be shown around the works, explaining how wastewater gets there, how it is treated and returned to the waterways, including the science behind it all.
These sessions will be on a first come first serve basis, with limited capacity per tour slot. Please note, this session is outside, subject to cancellation in poor weather. Please inform Welsh Water of any accessibility concerns and they will discuss further.
Please register your interest by emailing @River Quality Liaison and Welsh Water will be in touch.
See pdf version of image above:: Llanina Open Day 23-Mar-2023
Welsh Water publishes long term plans to help protect Teifi
Under its plans, the company has identified where either investment or modifications are required at its sites based along the rivers which will reduce or limit the amount of phosphorus that enters the rivers from its wastewater treatment process.
See also: Understanding the sources of phosphorus in our rivers
Beaver Reintroduction Survey
As researchers at the University of Exeter, we are inviting residents in Wales to take part in research investigating attitudes towards Eurasian Beaver (Castor fiber) reintroduction in Wales. We would like to invite you to take part in this research, and to share this invitation within your networks.
This research aims to better understand public attitudes to beaver reintroduction in Wales, including how respondents feel about beaver management techniques and how attitudes differ between groups of people. All views are welcome. Participation is voluntary and anonymous, and the survey can be completed in Welsh or English.
Findings will be outlined in a results report that will be submitted to Natural Resources Wales and North Wales Wildlife Trust. It will also become publicly available in 2023, and participants will be offered the opportunity to opt in to receive a copy of this results report. Findings may also be reported upon in a subsequent academic publication.
This research is commissioned by North Wales Wildlife Trust with funding received through the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government. The research is being independently conducted by the University of Exeter. North Wales Wildlife Trust do not have oversight of the analysis.
Thank you for considering this invitation, and for any contribution you may be willing to make. Further information is available at the survey links:
- To take part in Welsh, please go to: www.shorturl.at/bgm08
- To take part in English, please go to: www.shorturl.at/brL18
If you have any questions about the survey, please email r.e.auster@exeter.ac.uk
If you have questions about beavers in Wales, please email beaver.afanc@northwaleswildlifetrust.org.uk
MPs told Natural Resources Wales is not fit for purpose
Welsh MPs have been told that Natural Resources Wales is not fit for purpose and that Llandudno saw the largest amount of sewage dumps into the sea by Dŵr Cymru than anywhere else in Wales during 2022.
Committee Chair Stephen Crabb MP for Preseli Pembrokeshire kicked off the session on water quality by asking how bad is the situation in Wales?
Gail Davies-Walsh of Afonydd Cymru said: “My summary at the minute is that Welsh rivers are in a very poor state in terms of water quality.
“Five of our nine Special Areas of Conservation designated rivers are failing for phosphorous and excessive nutrients.
“32% of all rivers in Wales fail for phosphorous and only 40% meet their good ecological status. Sewer overflows play a very important part of the impact to our river quality. Over the last two years the data for Wales has shown that currently around 100,000 spills per annum goes into our rivers.” Giving evidence to the Welsh Affairs Select Committee in the House of Commons today (8 January 2023) were Gail Davies-Walsh, Chief Executive, Afonydd Cymru; Jon Khoo, Chair of Surfers against Sewage and Angela Jones who has led a 30 year campaign to save the River Wye from polluters.
click link: MPs told Natural Resources Wales is not fit for purpose (nation.cymru)
The recorded live session of this Welsh Affairs Committee can be seen on video via the link below:
MPs hold one-off session to examine sewage discharges in Wales - Committees - UK Parliament
Manningtree wild swimmers bid for bathing water status
Wild swimmers said they were applying for bathing water status for a river to stop it being used as a dumping ground for sewage.
The group swims in the River Stour in Manningtree, Essex. Some members havefallen sick after swimming in the river, where sewage was recorded as having been released for more than 1,200 hours last year. Campaigner Anna Helm Baxter said: "We've had enough of polluters not being held to account."
click link: Manningtree wild swimmers bid for bathing water status - BBC News
see also: Wild swimmer wants bathing status in bid to clean up Shropshire rivers | Shropshire Star
The UK's official swimming rivers are too polluted to swim in
New Scientist reports on 8 Mar 23 that Just two rivers in the UK are designated as "bathing waters", and both are currently rated in poor health. With more rivers set to become bathing waters, will they actually be clean enough to use?
click link: The UK's official swimming rivers are too polluted to swim in | New Scientist
Ray Mears: Some British rivers so polluted I wouldn’t even canoe on them
Nature presenter and survivalist speaks on 5 Mar 23 of ‘heartbreaking’ state of UK waterways, where the pleasure of a wild swim is being ‘lost’
click link: Ray Mears: Some British rivers so polluted I wouldn’t canoe on them (telegraph.co.uk)
Horror as 10 tonnes of waste cleared from tiny stretch of River Teifi
More than 10 tonnes of waste have been cleaned up from a three-kilometre stretch of the polluted River Teifi.
Llandysul villagers have expressed their horror after images on social media showedboat loads of debris and agricultural refuse being hauled from the riverbed by tens ofvolunteers over the last three weekends.
Teams numbering between 20 and 50 people, led by the village’s Paddlers Canoe Centre and Club, took to the water or scoured the riverbanks.
click link: Horror as 10 tonnes of waste cleared from tiny stretch of River Teifi | cambrian-news.co.uk
Afonydd Cymru Summary of Second Phosphorus Summit
On Wednesday 8th March, 2023, the second Phosphorus Pollution Summit was held in Cardiff, hosted by First Minister, Mark Drakeford MS.
Julie James MS, Minister for Climate Change an dLesley Griffiths MS, Minister for Rural Affairs were also in attendance, as were representatives from Natural Resources Wales, local authorities, the agricultural sector, house building and the environment. Representing the rivers and river trusts of Wales was Gail Davies-Walsh, CEO of Afonydd Cymru.
First Ministers summary was: ‘we need to do more and we need to do it quicker’. We also welcome his commitment to lead the governance structure being developed. What we absolutely need to see is more action.
click link: Second Phosphorus Summit: Our Summary | Afonydd Cymru
see also: New strategy agreed on reducing river pollution (nation.cymru)
One man’s quest to turn sewage into eco-gold
Phosphorus in fertilizer is crucial to feeding the world but too much of the element in the environment is disastrous.
A revolution in capturing phosphorus from wastewater is underway.
Phosphorus recovery will improve water quality and create a more sustainable food system.
click link: The green genius of capturing phosphorus from sewage - Big Think
Scientists warn of ‘phosphogeddon’ as critical fertiliser shortages loom
Our planet faces “phosphogeddon”, scientists have warned. They fear our misuse of phosphorus could lead todeadly shortagesof fertilisers that would disrupt global food production. At the same time, phosphate fertiliser washed from fields – together with sewage inputs into rivers, lakes and seas – is giving rise to widespreadalgal bloomsand creating aquatic dead zones that threaten fish stocks.
click link: Scientists warn of ‘phosphogeddon’ as critical fertiliser shortages loom | Pollution | The Guardian
Extinction Rebellion set up 'crime scene' on River Taff where sewage is dumped
The group set up a 'crime scene' on the banks of the river next to the Taff Trail in Hailey Park, Llandaff North, on Sunday afternoon against the backdrop of sewage waste that includes sanitary products and wet wipes hanging from tree branches to highlight the Taff's current state, and as part of the UK national week of action called "Dirty Water".
Plan to take Welsh water for London stirs painful memories
Thames Water wants to abstract up to 155m litres of water a day from Wales to boost supplies for the most populous part of England in the coming years. It isworking withUnited Utilities, which has a licence to abstract water from Lake Vyrnwy, a reservoir in Powys, and with Severn Trent. But as the graffiti across north Wales in memory of Capel Celyn show, water continues to be an emotive subject in the country.
click link: ‘Very sensitive subject’: plan to take Welsh water for London stirs painful memories | Wales | The Guardian
Australia mass fish deaths in Darling River March 2023
Global warming is a danger to river life - It follows previous large-scale fish deaths in the same area in 2018 and 2019 as a result of poor water quality and sudden temperature changes. The state planning and environment agency warned river oxygen levels could fall further this weekend as temperatures rise.
Public warned to avoid Newport Beach after raw sewage spill - 19 Mar 23
The charity Surfers Against Sewage (SAS)issued the alert as sewage leaks worsen amid heavy rainfall in recent days. The sewage has leaked from major works and pipelines, seeing waste discharged into the sea. An alerts has been issued for Newport Beach where sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. The beach is serviced by a relatively new sewage treatment works that usually discharges biologically treated sewage effluent via the long sea outfall, some 700m from the coast into Newport Bay.
click link: Public warned to avoid Newport Beach after raw sewage spill | Western Telegraph
Climate - The BIG One - 21 April 2023
On Friday the 21st of April, 100,000 people will be demonstrating in Westminster with a focus on the Climate Crisis, and demanding the government accelerate its action on this.
Climate-concerned individuals and organisationswill be travelling from all over the country and if you want to be a part of that: Coaches will be going from West Wales.
No direct action tactics that impact on thepublic are planned or expected, in order to make the gathering on the 21st of April onwards accessible to all.
Whilst radical direct action may have helped a Climate Emergency be declared, without the demonstrable support of the mass populace, the UK Government will still not act with the urgency required.
Therefore to effect the needed change, the intention is that NGOs, faith groups, community groups, unions, environmental groups and individuals will all join together in Westminster on the 21st of April to create a moment in history. A time and place where a new identity will be founded, one that will show what the people want and what the people need,to those who represent us in Parliament.
See the Facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/2698429613622458
More details can be found on this link: http://tinyurl.com/BigOneWestWales
Which includes information about coaches going from West Wales on 21st, and dedicated accommodation in London for those who can stay for the weekend, up to Monday 24th.
Cardigan XR Group are focussing on rivers and hope to have a King Canute type theme or similar as part of the Dirty Water campaign.
Find out more about the Dirty Water Campaign here: Dirty Water Campaign | Rebel Toolkit (extinctionrebellion.uk)
All the national movements which will be supporting The Big One can be seen here on the Big One Supporters list - https://www.facebook.com/XRebellionUK/posts/pfbid02MZ38yaycQQr1BEKwL4yh6CZvM2YFCwL3PhwSdP3eVMfixTkeZm41uxdDggNLqnAjl
So it looks as if The Big One will be BIG!
“Welcoming Back Teifi Salmon Day” – 1st April 2023
11:00 am at St. Dogmaels, Alexandra Gardens/Teifi Net Pool Car Park
A fun event celebrating the return of the Salmon from the Sea at the Teifi estuary. There will be a river blessing, musical performance, group activities and interactive story telling from professional artists.
- Meet at the carpark, welcome from WWRT and opening talk, musical parade to the net pool and blessing stone near the water’s edge.
- Historical account of Teifi Salmon from locals; including anglers and coracle fishermen
- Musical performance and activities.
- Personal wishes for the Teifi & reflection.
- Interactive story telling
Open to suggestions, performances, and partners. Please contact nathaniel@westwalesriverstrust.org
