How the Women’s Institute is helping wage war on ‘shameful’ river pollution

The Women’s Institute is waging war against a ‘shameful’ problem with pollution in our rivers.

Nationally, the organisation has been outspoken on water quality problems with members hoping to send a ‘clear message’ that ‘they will not stand by and watch’ rivers polluted.

And last Friday (September 20), members at Cockpole Green WI rolled their sleeves up for a UK-wide water quality survey - with the results of their survey ‘bad - if not worse’ than expected.

Cockpole Green WI’s correspondent secretary Sheila Brockelbank, 73, said:

“It's just upsetting to think that the river’s not healthy and is having to decline and is full of weeds.

 “It’s sad to see and we just want to try and do what we can.”

The River Thames suffers from sewage pollution and problems with agricultural pollution caused by fertiliser washing off nearby fields into the water.  

Both can be devastating, creating a dangerous water environment for humans – and one which could be fatal for wildlife.

A reliable indication of whether a watercourse has been polluted by either of these is by testing levels of nitrogen and phosphate.

A test can be done using by adding a water sample to a tube containing a reactive chemical and comparing the resulting water colour to a chart, similar to a pH test.

“I did guess that the results weren’t going to be great,” Sheila said.

“But when you actually see the colours develop on the phosphate and nitrate tubes, it really does make your heart sink.

“You think ‘oh my god, it’s as bad - if not worse - than I thought.’”

Cockpole Green WI members tested watercourses around Wargrave.

Their results at Hennerton Backwater showed nitrate levels between 5 and 10 between 0.5 and 1 for phosphate – high levels of both nutrients.

Sheila said results were only ‘marginally better’ for three other locations in the river near Wargrave Boat Club, St Patrick’s Stream and the George and Dragon pub.

The results have been sent to Imperial College scientists for more analysis.

WI members passed a resolution last year which called for better protection of rivers ‘for the sake of people and wildlife’.

On the vote, National Federation of Women’s Institutes’ (NFWI) chief executive officer Melissa Green said:

“Water quality in our rivers is currently shameful. The vote by WI members to pass the resolution is a clarion call to end to the scandal of river pollution in this country.

“Our movement of over 180,000 committed WI campaigners will now be working to safeguard their local rivers by applying for bathing water status.

“Members of the WI are sending a clear message that they will not stand by and watch as our rivers face ecological ruin, but will work positively to bring about change for the sake of people and wildlife."

WI members, joined by other campaign groups, across the country are set to take part in a March for Clean Water on October 26.

For more information on the march visit: marchforcleanwater.org