‘Citizen scientists’ to check UK rivers for sewage and pollution

Big River Watch scheme asks general public to help monitor state of rivers after years of deregulation

Rivers will be checked for sewage and other pollution by the general public this month in an attempt to assess the health of British waterways.

Cuts to the UK regulators and a change in the law to allow water company self-monitoring of pollution in England mean there is little independent monitoring of the state of rivers in the UK.