🚨2023’s #sewage deluge: new data highlights the urgency of our fight for better rivers.

Last year in England:

‼️ Raw sewage was discharged 464,056 times
‼️ For a total of 3,606,170 hours (double 2022)

It's vital we #EndSewagePollution .

Read more👇
theriverstrust.org/about-us/news/…

📍Are you interested in Nature Recovery in Berkshire?

🌊Want to advocate for your local rivers & blue spaces?

💭Join one of the local community events across Berkshire to help shape the strategy and share your views!

Book here👇eventbrite.co.uk/cc/public-enga…

Can open data help to rescue rivers? Thames21's Claire Robertson explores this question in her interesting blog post. thames21.org.uk/2024/03/how-op…

The East London Waterworks Park needs help to be saved from development- Sign here: actionnetwork.org/petitions/save…

Great to see our very own Sarah Thornley feature in yesterday's BBC report on Wallingford Beach in Oxfordshire potentially gaining bathing water status.
bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…
📸Pic credit- Julie Bywater

💬 We support these applications and pay tribute to the individuals and groups who have worked so hard to submit them

We have written to the Government in support of bathing water applications at 27 more sites across the country 🌊

Learn more ⤵️

📢Wallingford Beach in Oxfordshire has reached the next stage of its application for designated bathing water status. Can you help us to secure cleaner water for this stretch of the River Thames for people and for wildlife? Respond to survey here:⬇️🧵
consult.defra.gov.uk/water/consulta…

🚨 Today, Defra released their consultation for 27 new bathing waters. 13 of these applications are ones that we supported through our Protecting Wild Waters campaign. 🙌

Respond to the consultation by the 10th of March: pulse.ly/o5otsucgcr

A MUST watch in our humble opinion- we need to amplify our voices until we are heard clearly & bold targets are set. This attack on our blue spaces is an embarrassment & and utter disgrace CPRE Oxfordshire WildFish Dave Wallace Joe Lycett Feargal Sharkey

How can we stop #sewage #pollution upstream of beloved #river swimming sites? Come along to our event next Thursday 11th January in Wolvercote: Bathing Water Status 2 years on. Book your (free) place here: eventbrite.co.uk/myevent?eid=76…

🏊Of the 424 bathing water sites in England, only three are designated along rivers.

❌All three were rated as poor during the 2023 bathing season.

📍The catchment has applied for designation at Henley-on-Thames and Wallingford this year, with the outcome due next spring.

Excellent to see our very own Claire Robertson speaking to BBC Radio Oxford over the weekend about our Wolvercote Mill Stream news. Read more here: thames21.org.uk/2023/12/wolver…

In relation to Defra UK's new bathing water quality statistics - Wolvercote Mill Stream designated as poor for third year running, but improvements on the way
Read full story here: thames21.org.uk/2023/12/wolver…
#bathingwaterquality #Oxford

Our results highlighted concentrations of harmful bacteria up to six times above the recommended standards for safe bathing in Henley-on-Thames - a location famous for its popular swimming and rowing events.

Fantastic appearance by Thames21's Aggie Hodges on BBC Radio Oxford earlier today. She discussed results from our Henley-on-Thames water quality report with BBC journalist Bridgitte Tetteh. Listen back 3:12:31 before it disappears! 🧵
bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0…

Trained citizen scientists undertook a water quality monitoring programme that involved 20 weeks of sampling at six sites between Henley-on-Thames and Reading.⬇️

Our Reclaim Our Rivers project has highlighted concentrations of harmful bacteria up to six times above the recommended standards for safe bathing in Henley-on-Thames. thames21.org.uk/2023/11/river-… 🧵 pic credit: Rachael Wood

Twenty weeks of sampling, 140 water quality samples and more than 230 consultation responses later and the two applications for
Wallingford Beach and Mill Meadows to become designated bathing water sites have been submitted!⬇️