Citizen testing reveals phosphate ‘crisis' in English and Welsh rivers

The Guardian

19-05-2025

Citizen testing of rivers in England and Wales by anglers reveals that more than a third of freshwater sites breach phosphate levels for good ecological status.
Volunteers from angling groups are using the data to try to drive change in the way rivers are treated – but the task ahead is huge, according to the Angling Trust and Fish Legal.
'Our freshwater habitats are in crisis – a fact now widely recognised by the public, politicians and regulators,' the chief executive, Jamie Cook, said. 'Many anglers already knew this, having witnessed the decline in water quality at our favourite fishing spots.
'This report sheds further light on the dire state of our rivers and shows how anglers are using data to deepen our understanding of water pollution – and to influence the future of river management when recognised as legitimate stakeholders in decision-making processes.'
The report analysed about 4,000 samples collected by volunteers in the network between July 2023 and July 2024. They measured nitrate, phosphate, ammonia, electrical conductivity, temperature and turbidity on 76 catchments, along with visual observations and photographs.
Only 16% of English rivers are considered to be in good ecological status, with phosphate levels at an upper limit of 0.306ppm.
The report reveals almost 34% of samples collected by angling volunteers breached that upper limit.
Nitrate levels have no upper limit but Angling Trust volunteers were given independent guidance that nitrate concentrations of 5ppm or more were excessive in a freshwater habitat. This level was exceeded in 45% of samples collected.
The pollution is not evenly spread, the report reveals. In the Medway catchment, which is mostly in south-east England, including Kent, Surrey and East Sussex, 100% of site averages – based on eight or more samples in the year – failed to meet good ecological status as defined by the water framework directive, which is part of English law.
In the Avon catchment in Warwickshire, 86% of phosphate site averages failed to meet good ecological status.
Anglers are calling on the government and water companies to improve water quality.
Alex Farquhar, the campaigns and advocacy officer at the Angling Trust, said: 'This report paints a picture of the continued ill health of our rivers and the systemic failure to make the rapid shifts in governance needed to bring them back to life. Listening to citizen science initiatives like this one is essential to this process.'
The extent of pollution still affecting English rivers was revealed as Labour MPs refused to consider adding extra protections for chalk streams, which would designate them as irreplaceable habitats in the planning and infrastructure bill – designed to drive Labour's target of 1.5 million houses and grow infrastructure delivery across the country. All Labour members examining the draft law rejected an amendment containing the extra provision.
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Anglers from the rivers Test and Itchen, two world-renowned chalk streams in Hampshire, used the data gathered over 12 months to expose how Southern Water was contributing to polluting the waterways.
They protested with others over sewage dumping from the Fullerton wastewater treatment works. After the demonstration Southern Water increased the capacity of the treatment works, drastically reducing sewage spills.
Anglers from the Royal Tunbridge Wells Angling Society, on the Medway, monitored 15 sites and collected 279 samples, which were analysed by the independent researchers Dr Eleanor Kean and Dr Liz Bagshaw, at the University of Bristol. Every sample breached the upper limit for good ecological status (GES) due to high phosphate levels.
The anglers put pressure on the Environment Agency to create a joint monitoring group that exposed how more than 90% of pollution problems were from direct outputs and outflows from wastewater treatment works and combined sewer overflows, which were the responsibility of Southern Water.
In Warwickshire, more than 50 anglers took part in the monitoring. Their sampling showed 86.4% of sites regularly tested in 2023-24 had average phosphate readings breaching good ecological status – significantly higher than the national average.
Andy Hammerton, a Water Quality Monitoring Network volunteer with the Girling Angling Society, said: 'While our efforts to force the water companies and Environment Agency to improve may be perceived by some to be too little too late … my hope is that by applying the pressure now, my grandchildren will benefit from a clean and safe natural river environment where wildlife and fish will once again flourish.'