Southern Water to fund 15 water monitors
Pan-Parish River Pollution Forum Secures Funds for Testing Equipment
It has been announced at the latest meeting of the Houghton based, Pan-Parish River Pollution Forum that Southern Water have agreed to fund sonde testing equipment at key sites along the rivers Test, Itchen and Blackwater.
The announcement was made by Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson and Forum member, Geoff Cooper and follows a series of meetings and conversations between Mr Cooper, Southern Water and other members of the Pan Parish River Pollution Forum after Houghton Parish Council purchased their own water testing equipment last year.
Geoff Cooper said: “The Houghton testing equipment is already providing excellent data and insight, but it is only able to cover one small part of the River Test. The plan is to have a string of similar devices running the length of the river from source, which will give real time data and provide valuable insights into river health, impacts from pollution and act as an early warning system.
“I’m extremely grateful to Southern Water for funding this equipment. The proposed testing sites were hand-picked by the river keepers who look after our precious chalk streams and waterways. It is their expertise that has guided this project. We want to ensure we are capturing the most relevant data needed to obtain the clearest picture possible to protect our rivers.”
Also present at the Forum meeting was Joff Edevane, Environment and Clean Water Lead at Southern Water and Matt Owen-Farmer, Senior Ecologist from the Environment Agency. Both of whom gave presentations to the Forum and provided the group with latest updates from their organisations.
Notably, the Environment Agency’s presentation showed just how limited current testing and data availability is on our rivers today. Since 2014, only fifty invertebrate samples have been taken along the entirety of the River Test north of Romsey.
Geoff Cooper added; “Government regulation will require permanent testing at many of the sites highlighted by the river keepers. However, that legislation only requires testing by 2035. Today’s news will mean we are able to start monitoring this year, gathering vast amounts of data and gaining valuable insights into our rivers, their health and the pollution that impacts them. This will allow us to target our efforts in reducing all pollution in our rivers.
“Although it is the sewage dumping that hits the headlines, the reality is that our rivers are under threat from a whole host of pollutants from road run-off, agricultural and farming practices, industry and construction, as well as global warming and climate change.
“The testing equipment funded by Southern Water, which will be operated and maintained by the riverkeepers, will go a long way to helping us better protect our rivers and waterways for future generations to come.”
Cllr Alistair Dougall, Chair of the Pan Parish Forum said: “We are delighted that Southern Water will be funding these water monitors, which will monitor the water quality of the River Test on an hourly basis and provide us with invaluable data down the whole length of the river and alert us to any pollution incidents. I want to thank Geoff Cooper for all his hard work on this, and to thank Seth Crosswaite and his fellow river keepers in identifying the locations for the monitors in order to give us the best coverage. The Pan Parish Forum was set up a year ago to campaign for clean water in the River Test and to stop pollution in all its forms. We have established a constructive and ongoing dialogue with Southern Water and we are very grateful to them for their support with this project.”
For the article in The Hampshire Chronicle, click follow this link: https://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/24862185.water-company-fund-pollution-test-kits-hampshire-rivers/