Rivers Need Care

The world's rivers have never been under such stress. In the UK and Ireland, rivers are under huge pressure from human activities.
Rivers and the surrounding land drained by them (catchments) are very important wildlife habitats. The water itself provides the environment for fish, plants and animals, while the banks and nearby land support creatures such as otters, kingfishers and dragonflies and a variety of water-loving plants. Pollution is the great danger, which can destroy the balance of this environment.

Where does pollution come from?

There are several sources of water pollution, which work together to reduce overall river water quality. Industry and agriculture discharge liquid waste products. Rain as it falls through the air, or drains from urban areas and farmland, absorbs contaminants.

Acid rain

Rain falling through polluted air absorbs some of the pollutants as it falls. The main pollutant gases are sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which form when fuels are burned. They react with rainwater to form sulphuric and nitric acids.
On reaching the ground the acid liquid has many effects. It can release harmful substances such as aluminium and heavy metals from the soil. These are normally present in an inert, harmless state, but in acid conditions can turn into compounds poisonous to plant and animal life. When washed into lakes and streams the aluminium can kill small water creatures and fish.

Industrial pollution

Many industrial wastes discharged into water are mixtures of chemicals, which are difficult to treat. Some industrial wastes are so toxic that they are strictly controlled, making them an expensive problem to deal with. Some companies try to cut the costs of safely dealing with waste by illegally dumping chemicals at times and in places where they think they will not be caught.Agricultural pollution When organic farm wastes like silage or liquid manure (slurry) escape into rivers, the amount of oxygen in the water is reduced. Ten thousand fish died when pig slurry escaped into a tributary of the River Severn in 1 985.
Nitrate pollution problems occur when too much chemical fertiliser is applied to the land. The excess runs off and can find its way into drinking water sources, or can trickle into rivers and lakes. Some experts believe that high levels of nitrate in drinking water may pose a threat to health. A European directive states that drinking water should not contain more than 50 milligrammes of nitrates per litre of water.
In rivers, streams, ponds and lakes, too much nitrate can create a 'pea soup' effect. The water becomes clogged with fast-growing plant life like algae and weeds. This is a major problem especially in some areas of England such as East Anglia. In problem areas, some farmers voluntarily control their use of nitrogen.

Protecting rivers and streams

Both the European Union and the British government are concerned about water pollution. Water quality is protected by many different laws.
The most important modern legislation is the Water Resources Act of 1991. It instructs the Environment Agency to police the use of water in England and Wales. The Environment Agency manages fisheries, flood defence, navigation, recreation and nature conservation
The Environment Agency protects water resources by issuing licences for drawing off large volumes of water (abstraction) from watercourses, and for the discharge of pollutants.
There is evidence that the quality of most rivers in the UK is good and few give cause for concern. A recent survey, compiled from the opinions of 140 experts advising the WWF, suggested that UK rivers are on the whole in relatively good health and are well monitored. There is however, no room for complacency and river management programs must be enforced.

UK River Care:

Facts about UK river pollution:

UK Environmental Agency:

World River Pollution Issues:

A sample study of areas of the world where pollution is a problem may be considered from the links below. Use search engines to find out about the environmental issues relating to other major rivers of the World.

EcoWorld Website

Columbia River:

River Rhine Pollution: