iNews

Save Britain’s Rivers

2023

The i launched the ‘Save Britain’s Rivers’ campaign to highlight the degenerative state of rivers in the UK.

Believing the Environment Agency and Ofwat to be “watchdogs without teeth,” editor Oly Duff said: “Protests are largely ignored by watchdogs and government Ministers. We cannot rely on them to take this seriously. So, journalists, readers and community groups will need to step in to force change.”

The i, in collaboration with sister title New Scientist, sought to undergo powerful investigations to shine a spotlight on the damaging effects the state of our rivers have on the environment, as well as publishing in-depth features, and producing podcasts, among other initiatives working with expert reporters, scientists, activists, public officials and political leaders.

The campaign aimed to reveal what was going on with UK rivers, to raise awareness and understanding of their plight, and effect a change of policy to combat these issues.

The i has also called on readers to report to them if they believe sewage pumping in their local area should be investigated. The i recently investigated Thames Water, finding that sewage was being pumped into the River Colne in Hertfordshire’s green belt, lasting 121 hours. The i continue to report on the issue, recently exposing how government’s housing policy will have damaging effects for England’s rivers.

The i continues to investigate the issue, recently reporting on recent pollution issues in November 2023, and on sewage concerns in the Isle of Wight, Wetherby and the Mole Valley in October.