Minister Pow’s visit to the Wye highlights the ongoing high profile of river pollution. More alarming for Government (see below) is the Daily Telegraph has begun a Clean Rivers campaign which it has run on its front page for several days this week.

Minister Pow visit to the River Wye

Defra Media ‘There has been coverage of Environment Minister Rebecca Pow’s visit to a farm in Fownhope near the River Wye in Herefordshire (10 February). Representatives from the Environment Agency, Natural England and Wye and Usk Foundation also attended the visit along with Bill Wiggin, MP for North Herefordshire, and Elissa Swinglehurst and David Hitchiner from Herefordshire Council, to see an example of positive farming practices in action and how these can make a difference to tackling water pollution.

The Wye catchment is an iconic location and hugely important for biodiversity, principally due to the wide range of rare river wildlife. Over 60% of the phosphate load in the catchment is from diffuse agricultural pollution from livestock manure and nutrients washing into the river during heavy rain.

The group discussed the issues affecting the area to gain a further understanding of the challenges and opportunities for working together at both a local and national level on solutions to restore it to favourable condition and create capacity for development, without harming the natural environment.

Defra is committed to improving the water environment and has convened a cross-Government taskforce with the Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to identify methods for sustainable development around the river. The Environment Agency has also recently secured additional funding to increase regulatory activity on the Wye. Click here to read more

‘Daily Telegraph’  (Note this is behind a pay wall but you will soon get the drift of their coverage.)

‘Water companies are ‘releasing raw sewage into rivers more than 1,000 times a day’

Telegraph analysis shows over a third of sewage discharge occurred when there was no heavy rain, suggesting firms breached their permits …. Daily

‘Rivers Campaign Water company chief executives should have their pay linked to levels of pollution, the head of the industry regulator has told the Telegraph. “Excess” returns must be reined in and action taken to clean up sewage in rivers, David Black, Ofwat’s interim chief executive, …’