Bristol Avon Rivers Trust (BART) will be running their annual WaterBlitz event this summer and are seeking river enthusiasts to take part. Between 9th – 12th July, BART aim to collect as many samples from the rivers, streams and lakes of the Bristol Avon catchment to help gain a snapshot of water quality.
(The Environment Agency does not collect river samples in Saltford as it is not a designated bathing area).
BART will supply free water testing kits to volunteers which will measure nutrient levels in a water sample taken from a chosen waterbody.
In high concentrations nutrients can impact the local wildlife which depends on a healthy river. The presence of these nutrients may indicate a pollution event nearby or ongoing issues from land management, sewage outfalls or urban pressures. The results will help BART target their ongoing conservation work.
Individuals or groups can get involved in the event and BART would like to encourage schools and community groups to take part too.
Head to https://bristolavonriverstrust.org/event/bristol-avon-waterblitz-2021/ to find out more and register for a free, easy-to-use water sampling kit and to take part in BART’s WaterBlitz event!
To find out results from previous years see the WaterBlitz interactive map. This is where the results from the survey in 2021 will also be published.
River water quality has been the subject of concerns in the past, please visit SPC’s webpage about river water quality for more information.