Reading Volunteers Tackle Water Quality Crisis

Volunteers in Reading joined thousands across the UK for the Great UK Water Blitz, testing rivers for nitrates and phosphates. The latest campaign produced over 4,500 results nationwide.

Tests in Reading looked for nitrates, which can harm health and fuel excess algae, and phosphates, which reduce oxygen in the water.

Volunteers included John Sharpe and councillor Richard Walkem.

Mr Sharpe said: "You collect water from a jam jar on a string, then test it using two chemical phials."

He added: "When the water changes colour, you can tell the level of nitrates and phosphates."

Mr Sharpe warned: "We've seen a massive rise in nitrates, which is a nutrient used to grow things, but in the water it causes an excess of algae and weed growth, called eutrophication."

He tested the Holy Brook at two spots and checked the culvert under the town centre. "Going in the culvert is amazing, but quite terrifying at times," he said. "I'm tall, so it's pretty horrendous, I have to get on my hands and knees and crawl through the water, which is so knackering!"

Of 19 places tested in Reading, 11 were labelled red for high nutrient pollution, five were orange for moderate concentrations and three were green for low concentrations.

Mr Sharpe also noted wildlife and trouble: "That said, there is wildlife in the river, like otters, kingfishers, and bullhead fish."

He added: "Near the old library, I was the first person to record seeing a brook lamprey."

On invasive species he warned: "Sadly, we've also found demon shrimp, which are an invasive species. They lower biodiversity because they are always eating fish eggs. Also, the indigenous crayfish have been replaced."

Cllr Walkem said: "It is great that volunteers are gathering this data to give us a greater public picture of the quality of the water in the river."

He pointed out: "The data shows the great job that nature does in reducing the nitrates as the water flows through Fobney Water Meadows."

On how invasive species spread he said: "The invasive species will have been transported in by humans. It could have arrived on imperfectly cleaned fishing equipment."

On policy he said: "If the Green Party were in power, we would invest more in the Environment Agency to provide effective investigation and protection work to our waterways."

He also said: "We would take Thames Water into public ownership, so that the wastewater treatment problems seen in the Water Blitz data at other locations can be fixed directly with greater accountability."

On public engagement he added: "Many people wish to live alongside a healthier river in many places across Reading. This wish will only come to pass with sustained data and campaigning. Doing this kind of activity is also a great way to feel connected to our community and nature."

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter