37% of water samples taken in Wales as part of the Great UK WaterBlitz showed unacceptable levels of nutrient pollution, compared to 74% in England.
A new report reveals that while Wales has better water quality than England, its rivers still face significant pollution challenges, according to data from the latest Great UK WaterBlitz. This citizen science initiative, organised by Earthwatch Europe and involving thousands of participants, highlights the varying water quality across the UK.
The Great UK WaterBlitz, which saw 7,978 citizen scientists test 4,017 freshwater sites for nitrates and phosphates in April, found that 66% of sites across the UK showed unacceptable pollution levels. In Wales, 37% of sites reported unacceptable levels of nutrient pollution, a better result than England’s 74%, but worse than Scotland and Northern Ireland’s 30%.
Within Wales, the Meirionnydd catchment was the cleanest with no datapoints showing hgh levels of nutrient pollution. The Llyn and Eryri fared well too, with just 10% of data points showing significant levels of nutrient pollution. At the other end of the scale, Cleddau and Pembrokeshire Coastal Rivers catchment was significantly worse than average with 69% of samples showing unacceptable levels of nutrient pollution.
Dr. Sasha Woods, Director of Science and Policy at Earthwatch Europe, commented:
“While the situation in Wales is better than in England, over half of the sites tested in Wales still show unacceptable levels of pollution. This demonstrates a clear need for action to address the issues impacting Welsh rivers and protect these vital resources. The UK-wide picture is one of rivers suffocating under relentless pollution – sewage, tyre particles, fertilisers – and it’s time to act across the whole of the UK.”
Participants in the Great UK WaterBlitz measured the levels of two polluting nutrients: nitrate and phosphate. Nitrates and phosphates are commonly present in domestic and industrial waste and sewage, as well as in the fertilisers that wash off farmland. High levels of nutrients cause excessive plant and algal growth, high levels of bacteria, and decreased oxygen levels in the water, killing plants and animals. The worse the nutrient pollution gets, the less able the river is to support aquatic life such as fish, insects and mammals like water voles.
The report emphasises that while Wales fares better than England, a UK-wide perspective is essential. The data signals a persistent issue with water quality across the nation. These findings underscore the need for continued monitoring and proactive measures to protect and improve Wales’s freshwater ecosystems.
