Earthwatch and Rivers Trust join Environment Agency to champion community’s vital role in river health

20th September 2025

The Chair of the Environment Agency, Alan Lovell, joined representatives from, Earthwatch Europe and The Rivers Trust, on Saturday, September 20th, to take part in citizen science water testing in Hampshire. The event, which took place on the River Itchen, aimed to draw attention to the critical importance of engaging communities in monitoring and protecting the UK’s waterways.

Citizen scientists carry out invaluable work that helps us better understand our environment. It is great to see volunteers coming together across the country through initiatives like the Great River Blitz and the Big River Watch – which show just how powerful community scientists can be in helping protect our rivers. These citizen science activities are clear examples of how these efforts can go hand in hand with wider Environment Agency work and contribute to our broad and diverse knowledge of our natural resources. – Alan Lovell, Chair, Environment Agency

Lovell was joined by Dr. Sasha Woods, Earthwatch Europe’s Director of Science and Policy, and Alison Matthews, Chalk Streams Restoration Strategy Manager at The Rivers Trust. Together, the trio tested the water quality of the River Itchen, one of the UK’s globally rare chalk streams. This collaborative effort underscored a growing recognition by official bodies of the invaluable data collected by volunteers. Earthwatch Europe champions citizen science, enabling communities to gather real-time water quality data that provides valuable insights and complements official monitoring efforts.

The Great UK WaterBlitz, a biannual citizen science event led by Earthwatch Europe, mobilises thousands of people to test local waterbodies for nitrates and phosphates, key indicators of agricultural and sewage pollution. Similarly, The Rivers Trust’s Big River Watch initiative encourages widespread participation in monitoring river health with the free, accessible Big River Watch survey app, building a comprehensive picture of the challenges facing UK waterways.

Over recent years there has been a big increase in the number of people taking part in citizen science projects, and the appetite for getting involved in supporting rivers has grown rapidly. The more we understand about the pressures and threats to our rivers, the better equipped we are to tackle them and to bring about positive change; the Big River Watch app is an easy first step for many new citizen scientists, and the Great UK WaterBlitz invites them to be part of a deeper investigation. By teaming up with Earthwatch and the Environment Agency on the banks of the River Itchen, we have demonstrated the ease and the value of this type of collaborative approach. – Alison Matthews, Chalk Streams Restoration Strategy Manager, The Rivers Trust

This data collected by citizen scientists has consistently shown a concerning picture of the nation’s freshwater health. Great UK WaterBlitz findings from April found that 66% of the datapoints analysed across the UK showed unacceptable levels of nutrient pollution. The same study in June and September 2024 showed 75% and 61% respectively. The Environment Agency acknowledged the role of citizen data, with some of its own staff participating in the WaterBlitz to compare findings with official data. This collaboration was a significant step towards integrating citizen science into national freshwater monitoring frameworks.

Both Earthwatch Europe and The Rivers Trust emphasise that the robust datasets generated by citizen scientists are not only crucial for identifying pollution incidents but also for informing policy and driving action to improve water quality across the UK. These initiatives demonstrate that even as statutory bodies face constraints, the collective power of communities can make a significant difference in safeguarding the nation’s precious water resources.