The Swinbrook River Day cancelled its much loved raft race this year. The duck race still went ahead.
The organisers did not want to risk the health of the competitors who often end up in the water so swapped it for Zorbing to keep people in a protective bubble. It did, however, look like a lot of fun!
We think they got it right. I took a small sample of invertebrates to demonstrate the method to a new volunteer and I found dead invertebrates. These things have a life cycle in the river. they mainly get eaten or they hatch into flies. Pollution or disease? Neither is an appealing scenario.
This was shocking to see as it was the second time in about a month we had found this.
We know the recent rain created one known scenario for untreated sewage spills and we published the spilling from the land treatment area at Bourton about two weeks ago – and we had even more heavy rain since.
We are trying very hard to persuade the Water industry and Environment Agency and Environment Minister to stop this practice. We find it amazing that this practice continues in the 21st Century!
Despite what we are told, it is not about stopping sewage flooding people’s homes; that is a consequence of an inadequate and sometimes poorly maintained infrastructure. It carries on year after year so that the water industry does not have to spend the money required to address it.
When the next River Day comes around in two years time we hope that the Windrush will once again be clean enough to host that raft race, and that everyone will enjoy the spectacle, parents will be happy for their children to take part, and we will be back on track for a healthy future.
It does not have to be like this. When enough of you say this is not good enough for you and your children, and grandchildren it will stop. WASP will help get your message across.
Please help us to get the numbers