Phosphates in the Rivers Lugg and Wye

The Current State of Our Rivers and What You Can Do to Help – by David Arrowsmith

The rivers Wye and Lugg were once not only our local pride and joy but they also claimed national notoriety for all the right reasons. In a BBC survey in 2010, the river Wye was voted the public’s  favourite river in England and Wales. It is a site of special scientific interest and much of the lower Wye valley is designated an area of outstanding natural beauty. However, even as the plaudits were handed out, concerns were being voiced about potential pollution. Eleven years later, sadly those fears have materialised. Our local rivers are badly polluted by phosphates and other contaminants. But it is not too late. If we act now, those days of pristine, crystal clear waters, can return.

The presence of pollution shows itself in toxic, green algae which is present almost everywhere you look. The river turns into a green soup as phosphate pollution boosts algal blooms. These smother the beds of Water Crowfoot which support diverse populations of water life. They also carpet the gravel beds where fish normally lay their eggs, cutting off their oxygen supply.

What is needed is proof of the origin of these contaminants so they can be eradicated. Cutbacks in the Environment Agency mean they don’t have sufficient resources to adequately monitor river pollution. As a result, the CPRE (The Campaign to Protect Rural England), in conjunction with Cardiff University, are organising a Citizen Science project. Volunteers take regular water samples at agreed sites which are then analysed to pinpoint the sources of river pollution. Through a recent advertising campaign, CPRE has something like 401 volunteers throughout the County which are more than adequate for the task (I am still waiting for my training so I can start monitoring).

Our rivers have been almost insidiously polluted over a period time and it may take a little while to decide on a recovery process. CPRE are seeking to work with local parishes to spread the word and through local knowledge, identify things like best test sites. If you are a local parish councillor, or you know someone who is, please get in touch with CPRE to see how you may help.

Contact: Barbara Bromhead-Wragg

Volunteer Manager, Herefordshire CPRE, Citizen Science Water Project.

E: admin@cpreherefordshire.org.uk T: 01873 892965 M: 07969796069

There are rumours of cases of pollution caused by deliberately allowing waste from animals to flow directly into our rivers and their tributaries. These sites are often difficult to locate, but I would urge anyone who knows of such cases to report them to the Environment Agency. You can do it anonymously if you wish. Call 0800 80 70 60. More information on https://www.gov.uk/browse/business/waste-environment

This is really important for our, and our children’s, futures. Thanks.

David Arrowsmith

Steps that Herefordshire Council is taking

Report below from former Ward Councillor John Harrington

The County has three initiatives underway to improve water quality in the Rivers-

The Nutrient Management Plan

The Nutrient Management Plan is being redrawn by the Nutrient Management Board (which includes representation from Herefordshire Council and the statutory agencies on both sides of the border with Wales) and it is hoped that it will have sufficiently concrete measures within it to give Natural England certainty that it will solve the problem by 2027.  However, Natural England have not yet agreed the redrawn plan and so a default moratorium continues to exist on all development in the Lugg catchment (nearly two and half years later).

Creating Wetlands

Because Herefordshire Council is the statutory local planning authority it has to decide on planning applications. Natural England is a statutory consultee in planning applications but currently refuse to consent to any development which adds (however small) phosphates to the river (unless the development achieves ‘neutrality or betterment’ with regards to phosphates into the water courses).

Until certainty is achieved on the effectiveness and certainty of a new Nutrient Management Plan, Herefordshire Council cannot give permission for almost any development in the Lugg catchment.

It is frustrating that the Environment Agency and Natural England (and Natural Resources Wales across the border) are the bodies responsible for the health of the Lugg and Wye but we as a Council have to make the decision on planning applications, against the health of a river which we cannot control.

Therefore, as a way of trying to unlock and manage the development impasse better, an initiative is underway where the Council buys land next to as many as 10 sewage works at a cost of up to £2m to reduce the effect of sewage-based phosphate, using reed beds between local small to medium sewerage works and the water courses they discharge into.  It is hoped that once these beds are through planning consent that Natural England will be sufficiently satisfied to allow some limited development based upon trading “phosphate credits”. 

This trading plan is the most likely initiative to produce short term results, perhaps within a matter of weeks. It is important to understand this is a mitigating mechanism and does not address the broader and more important need to focus on a total solution for the health of our precious rivers, addressing discharge from sewerage plants (and dealing with the dumping of raw sewerage when plants are overloaded by storm waters entering ‘combined sewers’) and diffuse pollution from agriculture.

Note on Effects of New Builds

Advice has also been sought from a QC exploring the idea that new build contributes such a small effect that it could be feasible to proceed carefully with some new builds on the basis of ‘source apportionment’.  This matter is ongoing with no clear advice yet from the QC.

John Harrington