The untreated sewage discharges and pollution of our rivers is appalling. However not enough of the media coverage attempts to examine the causes and try to find solutions.

Over 90 people attended the annual conference of the Colne Catchment Action Network (ColneCAN) at Woodoaks Farm on 2nd October to learn more. High quality presentations covered:

  • local geology and implications for chalk streams,
  • protecting drinking water in the catchment area,
  • Colne valley sewerage history and overview,
  • monitoring of emerging chemical contaminants in surface waters,
  • citizen science project involving local volunteers and St Mary’s University advancing local scientific studies.

The event was sponsored by Thames Water and Affinity Water.

To see the write up click here and to download the excellent presentation slides click here

Spoiler alert: slide 10 of 91 shows household contaminants commonly getting into our drains. Over 200 pollutants have so far been identified. The challenge is to establish which are the worst, prioritise finding their source(s) and work out how to combat.

This news item will be automatically archived on Tuesday December 31st, 2024