SOS Year in Review
A Huge Thank You!
As we look back on this year we would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of our incredible volunteers. Your continued support and dedication have been fundamental to everything we have accomplished throughout this year. Without your commitment, none of the achievements of Save Our Swale would have been possible.
As the festive season approaches, we wish all of our volunteers a very Merry Christmas and a happy, prosperous New Year.
Save Our Swale: Wins this year!
This year, Save Our Swale has celebrated a number of significant achievements. Each milestone reached reflects the collective effort to protect and improve our local river and environment.
These successes are a testament to the power of community action and the shared vision of a cleaner, healthier river for all.
The Batts: Channel 4 Filming and CSO Incident
In March of this year, Save Our Swale was in the process of filming a segment for a Channel 4 feature focused on Citizen Science at the Batts. During this filming, the combined sewer overflow (CSO) in the area was captured on record discharging sewage into the River Swale. Yorkshire Water’s initial response indicated that the asset was functioning as intended. However, water samples collected from the site clearly confirmed that sewage was indeed being released into the river.
Following the site investigation, Yorkshire Water identified a fault with the CSO, after which repair works to address the problem commenced. The underlying issues with the CSO proved to be more complex than first thought, resulting in works that extended well beyond the original timeline. The site remained enclosed by fencing until November, when the area was finally cleared.
This win is a testament to the power of citizen science and a powerful reminder that collective grassroots activity really can make a positive difference!
DBWS Application
The application for Designated Bathing Water Status was submitted to DEFRA following a significant effort from all involved.
The completed application represented the culmination of a dedicated programme, which included counting bathers at the site throughout the summer. This process was supported by extensive consultation with the local authority, members of the community, residents, visitors, and other key stakeholders to ensure a wide range of perspectives and input were reflected in the submission.
A huge thank you goes out to everyone who supported this endeavour and to those who helped carry out the survey of river users and took part in the consultation process.
Our application, alongside other submissions, will be open for public consultation from January to March 2026. Please keep an eye out for updates on the next steps.
Public Engagement
Festival Walks Highlighting River Health
Save Our Swale volunteers were invited by the organisers of both the Swaledale Festival and the Richmond Walking and Book Festival to lead a walk along the River Swale. During these guided walks, led by our brilliant volunteers, participants paused at several points to discuss pressing issues concerning water quality and invertebrate health throughout the stretch of river passing through Richmond.
The discussions were set against the backdrop of Richmond's rich historical heritage and its longstanding relationship with the river. The experience was successful in continuing to raise awareness of the ongoing activity of pollution for profit by our water sector.
Both walks resulted in several new volunteers joining Save Our Swale and a number of donations being made through our website.
Citizen Science Encourages Dialogue With Yorkshire Water.
In addition to our ongoing monthly water quality monitoring programme, Save Our Swale has entered into a partnership with Surfers Against Sewage to address pollution concerns at one of our recognised hotspots — Brompton. Since March, Save Our Swale volunteers have been collecting weekly water samples from this location, which are then dispatched directly to a laboratory for analysis, specifically testing for the presence of E. coli. The results of these laboratory tests are carefully compared with our own in-house sample data to ensure accuracy and provide a comprehensive picture of water quality at Brompton.
Recently, the accumulated findings from these sampling efforts have been supplied to Yorkshire Water. The aim of sharing this data is to support the initiation of a more thorough investigation at the site, with the objective of pinpointing the precise source of pollution affecting Brompton.
Public Campaigns
Sewage Campaign NetworkThis year we continued our collaboration with the Sewage Campaign Network. This is a group of grassroots campaigners deeply rooted in our local communities, working to save our rivers, lakes, and seas from sewage pollution. Each group within the network operates independently, but we speak as one, channeling the public's outrage at pollution for profit. We were involved in the People’s Commission and took part in the seminars organised by the Sewage Campaign Network to provide evidence to be submitted to the Cunliffe Review, which is the Government’s Independent Water Commission review of the water sector. We will continue to work closely with the Sewage Campaign Network as the Government’s Water Bill White paper progresses next year. Our Water Our WayThis year we joined the Compass coalition ‘Our Water, Our Way’ (OWOW).  Through OWOW, we have supported the Water Private Members Bill brought by the MP Clive Lewis, launching an overhaul of the failing water system. |
Water Analysis Report
Citizens science volunteers have conducted 22 monthly river sampling sessions since SoS commenced in September 2023, generating over 1,500 data records from 11 locations along the Swale. The results indicate that pollution is present through the river course with increased levels in urban areas, but with some spikes of pollution even in the higher reaches of the river.
Chemical pollution is detectable in levels of ammonia, phosphate and nitrogen arising from sewage release but also from agriculture. These levels frequently exceed allowable limits for safe bathing and are known to have adverse effects on wildlife and river ecology.
Levels of potentially hazardous bacteria such as E. coli and Enterococci are also measured by volunteers and often exceed recommended safe levels, particularly when effluent overflows directly into the river. Effluent released from the Richmond treatment works at Easby has particularly high levels of phosphate and of E. coli, indicating inadequate treatment. Even when diluted in the river, high levels are recorded downstream, further reducing water quality in the river beyond Richmond.
Key Dates for the Diary in 2026Sunday, 8th February: You are invited to attend our inaugural Annual General Meeting (AGM), which will be held at the Town Hall in Richmond from 13:30 to 16:00. Your input will be invaluable in determining Save Our Swale’s future direction. 16th February – 30th March 2026: We are pleased to announce the Swale and its Lifeforms exhibition at Richmond Library. We encourage you to visit, engage with the displays, and discuss the exhibition with some of our dedicated Save Our Swale volunteers. 16th February- 18th February 2026: Watch the 3 part Channel 4 documentary, The Isle of Shite, about the water industry and the severe human and environmental impacts caused by sewage pollution. You may spot familiar shots of the Swale. |
