Phosphate Pollution Found in Over 80% of UK Rivers

A recent study has revealed that more than 80% of English rivers tested suffer from phosphate pollution, prompting criticism of water companies in the country for discharging significant amounts of sewage water.

The “Angling Trust,” an organization representing British anglers, stated in a press release that “83% of the rivers monitored failed to meet environmental phosphate safety standards in at least one test.”

Phosphates in British rivers primarily come from the discharge of sewage treatment plants and their use in agricultural land, as this substance is part of the composition of certain fertilizers.

The “Angling Trust” published its first annual report from its water quality monitoring network on Tuesday, shedding further light on the state of Britain’s rivers and emphasizing the “urgent need for action,” as stated in the press release.

The report’s findings were based on more than 3,800 samples taken from 190 rivers spread across 60 water catchment areas.

The organization explained that it initiated the monitoring campaign because “essential tests conducted by the Environment Agency and water regulatory bodies have been reduced,” and obtaining information related to pollution from “water industries and the agricultural sector” remains challenging.

Stuart Singleton-White, an official at the “Angling Trust,” stated in the press release, “Current environmental regulations aimed at addressing river pollution are rudimentary tools without any guidance on where phosphate reductions should be made,” calling for “more stringent systems.”

British water companies have faced criticism for years due to the discharge of substantial amounts of sewage water into rivers and seas, partly attributed to the lack of investment in the sewage network, dating back to the late Victorian era in the nineteenth century.