Our Results
What did we find?
Phosphates
Phosphate arises from natural sources and agricultural processing but also from urban use such as detergents. It is at high levels in effluent and in polluted water and has major impacts on the environment by encouraging algal and microbial growth. Levels of phosphate are indicative of pollution and levels in natural waters are monitored and controlled by the Environment Agency. The Water Framework Directive specifications for good ecological status of phosphate depend on the alkalinity of the water and the altitude of the site. Given the location and conditions of the Swale an annual mean concentration of less than 0.077 mg per litre is required for high water quality.
Average levels in the river Swale measured by SoS have been above this limit in 50% of samples from Brompton which receives impact of various effluent discharges. Only two locations, Wainwath and Culloden, have a very high-quality rating of average phosphate levels below 0.024 mg per litre as shown below.
