Pollution

One of the big issues facing the Gaywood River, pollution comes from a huge variety of sources and has a massively detrimental effect on the water quality and thus on life in the river.

The biggest pollution issues facing the Gaywood include, but are not limited to:

agricultural chemicals
sewage spills and releases
industrial and waste operations
road run-off
mis-connected drains

Our pollution map shows sites that we are aware of where pollutants are entering the river. We expect the map to feature more points as we become aware of them. If YOU know where pollution is entering the river ping us a message to gaywoodriverrevival@gmail.com with the precise location (we love What3Words) and if it checks out we’ll add it to the map.

Latest

Most recent pollution incidents are posted here.

MONDAY 19 FEB 24

Grimston Watery Lane

Sewer manholes are again spewing raw sewage into the road and this is running down into the Gaywood river source at the spring. This is a recurring incident and has been reported the Environment Agency on many occasions. We are frequently told that it customers misconnecting to the sewer or that there is too much rain. Either way, the system is obviously unable to cope and this pollution is damaging the river and its wildlife.

SUNDAY 18 FEB 24

Bawsey upstream of Bawsey Ruins.

We have found serious run-off from industrial premises south of the river during moderate rain. Pollutants appear to include:

Petrol, diesel or oil
Toilet waste (possibly drained from portable toilets)
Rotting vegetable waste

All three pollutants will seriously damage the river. The oil-based pollution puts a film of oil across the entire river stripping the water environment of its source of oxygen and killing both fish and invertebrates. The toilet waste has the potential to spread E coli bacteria through the river. This is dangerous to people and pets.

Rotting vegetable waste and the toilet waste contain very high levels of phosphate which causes algal blooms, smothering life in the river.