UK River Report #5: Corporate Failings and Government Management Unveiling

Welcome back dear reader to the fifth installment of the UK River Report. In this month’s post, I will cover some of the recent developments to take place along the River Wye with respect to the alleged criminality of Avara Foods and its relation to the roles of Nando’s and Welsh Water in the decline of the river. I will also discuss wider corporate and government failings in the management of waterways great and small and reason to maintain hope for our rivers in these troubling times. 

Fast food failings:

In an open letter signed by numerous celebrities to Nando's, the restaurant chain has been accused of contributing to the pollution of the River Wye through its suppliers of chicken, with Avara Foods making up a significant proportion [1]. This comes as the restaurant chain is suspected to have deleted a web page naming its suppliers, in response to local school children challenging Nando's regarding poultry pollution along the Wye [1]. Reputation is apparently more important than environmental transparency. 

Despite rejecting these accusations, Nando's have released a statement announcing that an independent third-party audit into pollution claims would be arranged [1]. Considering the company's large customer base in the UK, especially among young people, it is crucial that Nando's demonstrate a willingness to become part of the solution going forwards, rather than the problem, with self regulation to hold their suppliers accountable being an attainable fix [1]. 

On a moral basis, I would advise not eating at Nando's until positive action is taken. I also hope this serves as a valuable reminder to check where the food we eat is sourced, to help make informed decisions in order to prioritise the health of the environment as well as our own. With my first hand experience of sampling the Wye, I urge readers to repost articles like this (please check out my references below), to help pressure company executives into making better decisions regarding the future of our rivers.

Class action expansion:

Last year, a class action lawsuit was brought against Avara Foods, its subsidiary Freemans of Newent and its 50% shareholder Cargill plc, alleging their responsibility for major phosphorus pollution along the River Wye, with a demand of compensation for the over 2000 individuals and businesses being represented [2, 3]. This legal action is now planned to be extended in order to include Welsh Water, making it the biggest claim of its kind in the UK [3]. 

Despite Welsh Water promising to invest £2.5 billion over the next 5 years to improve the environment, as well as spending £70 million on 13 schemes along the Wye in recent years, this is evidently not enough, with meaningful change necessary far sooner, as the firm remains culpable for discharges into the river [3]. 

Lowthorpe Beck’s wastewater woes:

Earlier this month, storm overflow from a Yorkshire Water water treatment works was reported to have entered into Lowthorpe Beck for over 120 hours, at a crucial time of the year when trout were moving upstream to spawn [4]. Although Yorkshire Water insists the majority of this discharge was spring water having filled its storm tank, diluted wastewater has also been discharged, which threatens to harm fish populations along the chalk stream [4]. 

This demonstrates the problem of combined sewerage systems, as I have discussed in a previous blog post and how separate systems for surface and wastewater would help prevent similar discharge events from occurring. 

Won’t somebody Save Windermere?

To help manage the pollution of England's largest lake, Save Windermere campaigners have urged individuals with private waste systems to request that their water companies connect them to the main sewage network, a right they have if their waste systems are responsible for, or at risk of causing damage to amenities or the environment [5]. Connection to the main sewage network transfers this responsibility from the individual to the water company, which ensures the effective treatment of their wastewater and passes the consequences of failure directly onto the water company [5]. 

It is deplorable that the primary effort to protect the lake from further sewage discharges is reliant on the actions of individuals and pressure groups such as Save Windermere, with ineffective involvement of water companies and government agencies. Sadly, this will delay any meaningful improvement in the future health of Lake Windermere. 

What is more, this comes as Save Windermere campaigners discovered that late last month water quality monitors installed by the Environment Agency at Cunsey Beck, which feeds into Windermere, were ineffective at detecting sewage [6]. This means that the lake would still be at risk of undetected sewage releases, potentially leading to mass fish kills such as occurred in June 2022 [6]. According to Save Windermere, water companies ought to monitor the composition of discharges pre- as opposed to post-release, and furthermore measure the amount rather than the duration of these raw sewage releases that enter our waterways [6]. 

Water Commission evidence submission:

Fortunately, despite what has been said, there should always remain hope for the future. The new Independent Water Commission has very recently released a call for evidence, from the public, environmental groups and investors alike, requesting ideas for how to tackle our broken water sector [7]. Given the obvious public outrage at the performance of water companies, increasing bills and the continued discharge of sewage - 3.6 million hours in 2023, double the previous year - I urge you to take up this opportunity and spread the word, particularly if you know anyone directly affected by these issues [7]. This survey will only remain live for 8 weeks, so please take action while you can. 

Independent Water Commission - Call for Evidence: https://consult.defra.gov.uk/independent-water-commission/independent-commission-on-the-water-sector-regulat/

Thank you for taking the time to read this month's issue of the UK River Report. I hope you found it informative. If you would like to get involved and raise awareness of river pollution in your area, please head over to the UK River Report website and check under the 'Get Involved' page to complete our survey, or feel free to get in touch via the 'Contact' page, if you feel you have more to discuss than the survey can offer. 

With hope for the future,

Federico 

References:

1. Martin C. Celebs Accuse Nando's of Contributing to Wye Pollution. BBC; 2025. [cited 2025 February 24]. Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c70k26jjkklo

2. Giddings A. Lawyers Set Out River Wye Pollution Claim. BBC; 2024. [cited 2025 February 25]. Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw4y77wyz18o

3. Messenger S. 'My children won't know the rivers I grew up with'. BBC; 2025 [cited 2025 February 24]. Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjexnyvnxeno

4. Johnson P, Makel J. Campaigners Raise Fears Over Chalk Stream Sewage. BBC; 2025. [cited 2025 February 24]. Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62620pwrn6o

5. Murugesu JA. Campaign Encourages Connection to Sewage Network. BBC; 2025. [cited 2025 February 24]. Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c863z6xe26vo

6. Bedendo F. Water Quality Monitors 'fail to detect sewage'. BBC; 2025. [cited 2025 February 24]. Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2k5qew1e75o

7. Espiner T. Public Asked For Views on How to Fix the Water Industry. BBC; 2025. [cited 2025 February 28]. Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g097mpl79o