Watershed Pollution Map
Wondering what’s in your water? Now you can find out using the Watershed Pollution Map.
WATERSHED provides independent, not-for-profit, investigative journalism that shines a light on the water crisis in its many forms. Using in-depth, rigorous and evidence-based stories, they hold the powerful to account, uncover abuses, illuminate overlooked stories, and champion solutions.
Their newly released Map brings together multiple layers of data from a wide range of sources to reveal the huge number of pressures on rivers, lakes, groundwater and seas. The map contains more than 120 datasets, ranging from river health, bathing water health, to historic landfill sites, sewage dumping, intensive farming, heavy industry and a lot more.
Access the map here to investigate the biggest pressures affecting your local area.
Earthwatch Bioblitz
Earthwatch Europe has just published the results of their “Great UK WaterBlitz”. Run as a biannual campaign, the Blitz calls on everyone to go out and test the quality of their local freshwater including rivers, streams and lakes to help build a national picture of water quality across the UK. Their most recent blitz saw thousands of people across the UK measuring their local water quality over a weekend in June, collecting over 1,300 datasets and qualifying as the UK’s largest citizen science water quality testing event. Their new report revealed:
– 75% of rivers across the UK in poor ecological health, rising to over 89% in the Thames and Anglia regions
– Solway Tweed area in the northwest showed the best health with only 50% of data showing unacceptable levels of nutrient pollution
– Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire had the worst water quality, whereas Gwent and Northumberland had the least nutrient pollution
Their next Blitz is due to take place in September, and you can sign up here.
The Rivers Trust Big River Watch
From 6th-12th September there’s another citizen science project you can get involved with – the Big River Watch. All you need is a smartphone and a waterway. You simply download the app and use it to make your observations, then submit them to help the Rivers Trust build a better picture of river health throughout the UK.
Forever Pesticides: PFAS contaminating our environment
A recently paper published explores the extent of PFAS contamination of pesticide products and their implications for human and environmental health in the US. The study found that PFAS chemicals are widely added to pesticides in increasing doses. This is increasing the health threat to humans and our environment through spreading these chemicals directly into the US’s food and water supply. PFAS are added to a range of pesticides, including those on crops, to kill mosquitoes, or to kill fleas on our pets.
To find out more you can take a look at the research here.
Water this, water that…
Why are we always banging on about freshwater? Because of our Not so Freshwater campaign! With news from the Environment Agency that our target date for cleaning up England’s waterways will be moved from 2027 to 2063, UK Youth for Nature are calling on government to act now for our freshwater ecosystems, for nature and for our future. If you’re concerned about PFAS or general river health, you can use the template on our campaign page to write to your new MP.
