News & actions

What the campaign has been doing.

Meetings, access agreements, testing progress and new data - the latest from Eyes on the Wye.

Water testing kit open on the riverbank at Bigsweir

Start of the Eyes on the Wye testing

Today we started our testing at Bigsweir Bridge focusing on the overflow pipe from St Briavels. The testing currently measures levels of phosphate, nitrate and nitrate, the level of turbidity and water temperature. The results are fed into the WyeViz system which covers the Wye and all its catchment and is contributed to by the Wye Salmon Association testing and other groups such as Friends of the River Wye. This will act as a baseline for us to rest against when there are future overflows.

Taking a water sample from the River Dore beside a stone bridge

Training with River Dore testing team

We met with Mariam Wilding Jones who has been working with the Wye Salmon Association and testing on the River Dore for over 5 years. She gave us a lot of information on the testing process. She also explained how she had made most progress through direct reporting to Welsh Water rather than the Environment Agency which had helped stop pollution from a local treatment plant.

Wales Online article: Sewage discharged into River Wye for thousands of hours last year, campaigners say

Wales Online article highlighting the campaign

Our first press release was published outlining the petition and website. The article contains a response from Welsh Water confirming they would like to discuss the issues.

Mark Savill and Catherine Fookes MP talking beside the River Wye at Bigsweir

River Walk meeting with Catherine Fookes MP

Mark Savill from Eyes on the Wye met with Catherine Fookes MP to explain the data that we have discovered on the level of sewage discharges and to call for a meeting with Welsh Water to understand how they were going to act to repair the problems. Catherine Fookes and her office produced a video of the conversation which helped raise the profile of the campaign which you can access here.

The Stop sewage in the Wye Valley AONB petition page

Launch of the website and petition

Today we launched our website setting out the objectives of the campaign, the data we have discovered and the impact on the local communities. The petition was also started with a call to Welsh Water to engage with us and agree a plan of action.

Surfers Against Sewage app showing the Newland storm overflow on the River Wye

Redbrook overflow pipe added to the Surfers Against Sewage app

As a result of information we provided to Surfers Against Sewage, they have been able to add the Newlands overflow - in the centre of Redbrook - to their app. This lets the community monitor incidents as they happen and see the history of the overflows going forward.

The River Wye at Bigsweir

Bigsweir access rights agreed for testing

We had a positive meeting with the Bigsweir estate and agreed access points for testing the overflow pipes in the area.

Eyes on the Wye meeting with Catherine Fookes MP

Meeting with Catherine Fookes MP

Our first meeting with the MP for Monmouthshire, outlining the issues we are campaigning on and agreeing a plan of action that included:

  • Sharing our evidence with the CEO of Welsh Water.
  • Trying to arrange a meeting with the CEO to discuss the issues.
  • Arranging a contact at NRW.
  • Attending a public meeting to discuss these issues.
  • Raising our campaign nationally.
The Wye Salmon Association

Planning meeting with the Wye Salmon Association

An introductory meeting with the WSA, reaching agreement on the need for testing and the approach required to evidence the call for change. The WSA outlined the support they could give for testing.