
Great UK WaterBlitz September 2024 Report
21st October 2024
During 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