September Update; What’s been happening lately?
- saveourswale
- Jan 12
- 4 min read
(Self) Designation of Bathing Water Status
As has been previously mentioned, DEFRA has deferred all applications for bathing water status until 2025. Save Our Swale (SOS) has almost 12 months of water quality monitoring data highlighting the state of the pollution in the Swale. Particularly concerning are those sites along the Swale regularly used for bathing, paddling, etc. With this in mind, SOS has taken the decision to self-designate these sites and to install signage which will advise all river users of any potential risks. The signage is in the final stages of the design phase, after which funding for production and installation will be secured.
Richmond Sewage Treatment Works
In August, SOS carried out testing and analysis for phosphates and bacteria both upstream of Richmond Sewage Treatment Works (STW) and downstream of the treatment works outflow pipe (the point at which treated sewage is released into the river). On 5th August, SOS recorded its highest count of coliform (including E. coli) which was noted at an astronomical 760,000 cells per 100ml. This reading was taken downstream of the STW outflow pipe (i.e. after the water was supposed to be treated).
We are aware of an issue earlier in the year of an overflowing inlet screen at the STW. We also understand that 16% of STWs have ‘operational issues’ and have written to Yorkshire Water to question whether the Richmond STW is compliant.
Ofwat fines Yorkshire Water £47m
Ofwat has fined Yorkshire Water £47m for failing to manage its treatment works and operating 45% of its storm overflows in breach of permit. A pretty damning failure by any standard. In addition to this, Yorkshire Water was downgraded in its environmental performance by the Environment Agency, and allocated just two out of four stars. It is also currently rated red after five serious pollution incidents.
Despite the fact that CEO Nicola Shaw heads up a company which is currently classified as operating ‘significantly below target’, she received a £371,000 bonus on top of her £657,000 salary for the year ending March 2024. Nice work, if you can get it…
Ofwat: Fit for Purpose?
Given the recent investigations and fines issued against Yorkshire Water, is Ofwat currently in a position to hold water companies to account?
At the July 2024 ‘Your Water, Your Say’ Q&A session with Ofwat, Save Our Swale asked the following question of CEO David Black:
Q: Do you feel confident that Ofwat has the regulatory capacity to monitor what these companies are doing with the money they get and the investment they receive, given their opaque financial circumstances?
A: ‘We are mindful of this. We have seen a massive step up in investment and so we will need to increase our resources and level of scrutiny. At the moment we are engaging with the Government. We will work with the Environment Agency to make sure that companies are held to account to deliver on this investment.’
Whilst these are encouraging words, the fact remains that Ofwat, in its current form, does not have the capacity to transparently scrutinise water company spending. As such, it cannot be an effective regulator.
Spreading the Word
Save Our Swale was delighted to present at an event organised by Sustainable Swaledale to share SOS’s campaign objectives and summary of analysis. The event was also a fundraiser for Sustainable Swaledale who very generously shared 50% of the amount raised with Save Our Swale. A huge thank you to them!
In August, SOS presented to Richmond Town Council to update councillors on SOS water quality monitoring analysis and campaign objectives. Feedback was very positive, with a number of councillors offering verbal support. The key points will be discussed and voted on by the Council at the September meeting.
Take Action!
March for Clean Water in London on the 26th October.
Some of us from SOS will be attending this event. More information via the link:
If you are thinking of attending, please get in touch as we are looking into the possibility of organising a group rail ticket.
Send your MP a Postcard!
This is a Friends of the Earth campaign to alert your MP to the thing that needs fixing to create a healthy environment where you live. Please take this opportunity to alert Rishi Sunak to the issues of pollution on the Swale:
Dates for the Diary
Gilling West, 5th October 1-4pm: Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust are hosting their annual open day in Gilling West. There’ll be talks, demos, a guided river walk, and the Rivers2U mobile lab and classroom will be there! SOS will be supporting this event and hosting a stall, so please do come along to chat with us about what’s happening to the River Swale.
March for Clean Water, London, 26th October: For more info, see the Take Action section above.
Water Quality Monitoring: The next dates are 29th September & 27th October.
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