Thank you to everyone who took part in the September Great UK WaterBlitz!
The Great UK WaterBlitz is a biannual campaign calling on everyone to go out and test the quality of their local freshwater including rivers, streams and lakes. This helps to build a national picture of water quality across the UK. The Great UK WaterBlitz is part of our ongoing FreshWater Watch citizen science monitoring programme. Our rivers and freshwater habitats are at crisis point and we need urgent action.
Register your interest to take part in the next WaterBlitz event in Spring 2025 using the form below.
September Great UK WaterBlitz Report
The latest Great UK WaterBlitz took place over the weekend of 20 – 23 September 2024. Over 4,500 people across the UK measured the water quality of their local rivers, streams, lakes and ponds. With this data we were able to capture a snapshot of the health of our rivers throughout the country. We need this data so that we can take action to restore our rivers and freshwater systems.
- 61% of data points across the UK showed poor water quality with significant regional variation
- The Anglian and Thames river basin districts have the worst water quality – over 80% of surveys showed unacceptable nutrient concentrations
- The counties of West Glamorgan in Wales, and Kirkcudbrightshire in Scotland have the best water quality
- In England, the county of Northumberland has the best water quality, whereas Rutland has the worst water quality in the UK
- Of the samples tested for additional chemicals, 100% had further contamination; with 80% of samples showing some level of risk to aquatic life
You can explore the results further in the Great UK WaterBlitz September 2024 report:
You can also read the results of our June WaterBlitz here.
Join the Great UK WaterBlitz in Spring 2025
If you would like to take part in the next Great UK WaterBlitz, you can register your interest using the form below. We’ll let you know when you can sign up to receive your water testing kit.
About FreshWater Watch
FreshWater Watch is the largest citizen science water quality testing programme in the UK. FreshWater Watch trains communities to use our simple water monitoring toolkit to detect nutrient pollution. It is not always possible to determine water quality at first glance. The FreshWater Watch toolkit helps to uncover the secrets hidden underneath the surface and makes the invisible, visible. With this robust data we can fight for real change.
Our supporter organisations
We’re grateful for the support of the following organisations:
Support the Great UK WaterBlitz
It costs £6 for each water testing kit used in the Great UK WaterBlitz and we rely on voluntary donations to support our work. Every donation means that we can test more rivers in more locations across the UK. Please donate to make the Great UK WaterBlitz as big as possible – the more data, the louder the call for change.
£6 can cover the cost of your water testing kit
£12 can pay for your kit and pays it forward for someone else
£24 can help us boost our campaign and makes you a freshwater hero
FAQs
Who can take part in the Great UK WaterBlitz?
Anyone who wants to help fight for better water quality can take part in the Great UK WaterBlitz. We want people across the UK to measure their water quality over the weekend of the 20-23rd September so that we can create a national picture of the health of our rivers.
Where can I test?
You can test any freshwater body (rivers, streams, canals and lakes), anywhere in the UK. Freshwater that is downstream of a sewage treatment works or an outfall pipe is more likely to have higher nutrient levels than freshwater that is upstream of potential pollution sources. Before you do your test, make sure it’s safe to do so – we advise staying several metres away from potential pollution sources for your own health and safety – and that you have permission to be on the land (if it is private property).
Do I need to have done water quality testing before?
No. The testing kits are easy to use and you don’t need any experience to take part in the Great UK WaterBlitz.
How long will the test take?
The test should only take about 20 minutes to complete the water testing.
What will I be measuring?
The WaterBlitz kit you will be sent will enable you to take easy measurements of the nitrate and phosphate levels in the water. You will be recording some simple visual observations of your chosen waterbody.
Why are nitrate and phosphate levels important?
Nitrates and phosphates occur naturally in the environment and are essential for plant growth. Healthy freshwater ecosystems usually have small amounts of these nutrients which help to sustain aquatic plant life. However, human activity on land can cause unnaturally high levels of nutrients to enter them.
Nitrates and phosphates are commonly present in domestic and industrial waste and sewage, as well as in the fertilisers that wash off farmland.
High levels of nutrients trigger a process called eutrophication, in which excessive plant and algal growth leads to high levels of bacteria, which in turn decrease oxygen levels in the water, killing plants and animals.
Where will my data appear?
After submitting your survey, please allow up to 15 minutes for your results to appear on the public event map. Your results will also appear on the global map.
Why is the data important?
Rivers are suffering from pollution from a number of sources – sewage, nutrients and chemicals. To change attitudes and policy towards rivers, we need robust data on water quality. Citizen science activities like the Great UK WaterBlitz and ongoing monitoring via the FreshWater Watch programme are vital to provide a robust, data-driven picture of the health of our rivers.
How will you use the data?
The data you submit as part of the Great UK WaterBlitz will be analysed and compiled into a public report, which will be published in the weeks following the Great UK WaterBlitz. The analysis in this report will be used to create a snapshot of freshwater across the UK. We will use this data to challenge water companies on their action; provide the Environment Agency with information on rivers they do not monitor; and to inform the Office for Environmental Protection on any activities we suspect are illegal.
Do I have to live near a river to take part?
No, but you do need to be able to get to one over the weekend of the 20-23rd September.
What individual actions can I take to improve the health of our rivers?
Ensure that you dispose of waste products appropriately; avoid flushing wet wipes down the loo or tipping fats, oils and grease down the sink. Remember, if it goes down the sink, it ends up in your drink.
How can I partner with you on research projects?
Earthwatch Euorpe is an Independent Research Organisation and we welcome conversations with academic partners. If you’d like to partner with us on the Great UK WaterBlitz or other freshwater citizen science projects, please contact Dr Sasha Woods, Earthwatch’s Director of Science and Policy.