In this post, we are going to focus on river and sea pollution.

In the web post on day 1 of the campaign, it was mentioned that the Brockenhurst sewer storm overflow spilled 58 times for a total of 482.95 hours, discharging into the Lymington River.

Further research by looking at the Rivers Trust Sewage map also shows that the Lyndhurst Treatment Work run by Southern Water sewer storm overflow spilled 47 times for a total of 381.63 hours in 2022 into the Bartley River. This eventually flows into the Beaulieu River!

Both the Lymington River and the Beaulieu Rivers flow into the sea!

Take a look at this 6 minute video from Russ Wynn from Wild New Forest which shows a discharge overflow spill and explains how it impacts the New Forest animals, wildlife and even our dogs who may drink from New Forest water sources.

Surfers Against Sewage challenge the government and water companies to put a stop to sewage pollution in rivers and the ocean. On their website, it informs us that:

“The UK consistently ranks as one of the worst European countries for coastal water quality thanks to the staggering amount of sewage, pollution and run-off entering our water. In 2021 alone there were over 370,000 discharges of raw sewage into UK rivers and seas. And during the 2022 bathing season alone, the hottest summer on record so far, we issued over 2,000 sewage discharge notifications for designated bathing waters through the Safer Seas & Rivers Service.

When we surf, swim or play in water that has raw sewage in it, we are at risk of gastroenteritis; ear, nose and throat infections; skin infections; and even hepatitis and e-coli. Research shows that water-users in the UK remain just as likely to become ill from seawater as they were in the 1990s. Poor water quality also harms river and ocean wildlife, reducing biodiversity, destroying delicate ecosystems, and threatening ocean recovery.

Meanwhile, regulators deliberately ignore the risks and impact of water pollution, while water companies continually fail to invest in improving infrastructure. Instead, they routinely discharge raw sewage into rivers and the ocean via thousands of ‘licensed sewer overflows’.

And sewage isn’t the only source of water pollution. From agricultural run-off to roads, landfill and poor waste management, a chemical cocktail of trash, microplastics and slurry is steadily poisoning our ocean, lakes and rivers.”

Some members Brockenhurst WI are sea swimmers and a few have commented on the pollution in the sea.

Issy has recorded this video about why her sea swimwear is now redundant due to the state of the sea water.

How very sad the pollution is stopping people doing what they enjoy!

So what can we do to help?

1. Please sign these petitions:

38 Degrees Petition by River Action and supported by over fifty organisations. They are calling on political leaders to rescue Britain’s rivers for nature and people by:

1. Ending sewage pollution
2. Stopping agriculture polluting our rivers
3. Preventing harmful chemicals at source
4. Securing water supply for everyone
5. Bringing nature back from the brink
6. Reforming planning rules and prompting natural solutions
7. Protecting river habitats and wildlife
8. Monitoring pollution of all rivers
9. Inspecting polluters and enforcing the law
10. Working together to restore our rivers

The Good Law Project (a not for profit campaign organisation that uses the law for a better world) are asking for an end corporate pollution in our rivers in this petition.

The Good Law Project ask us to “act quickly before our delicate ecosystems are lost forever. If we pull together now, we can take polluting companies to court, and keep our rivers healthy for future generations. Today, you can help use the law to defend the UK’s stunning natural landscapes.“

The UK Change Great Clean Up: A Petition for Fairness in the Clean Up of our Rivers – sign the petition here.

2. Consider volunteering/joining/donating to these organisations:

River Action UK

Surfers Against Sewage

The Rivers Trust

3. Email/write to your MP.

There is a template to email your MP here from River Action UK (a local campaigning organisation).

For those living in the New Forest East constituency, Sir Julian lewis does not accept emails, so please write to him at :

House of Commons
Westminster
London
SW1A 0AA

In the next post, we will look at how we unknowingly add to the pollution problem and solutions to help this.

Thank you for reading this post.