Subscribe to trusted local news
In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.
- Subscription costs less than £1 a week with an annual plan.
Already a subscriber? Log in here.
25
Jun
Extinction Rebellion campaigners take to River Nidd
Members of Harrogate Extinction Rebellion took to the River Nidd to highlight concerns about the state of the water.
The campaigners pretended to fish turds from the water in Knaresborough shortly after more than 500 people waded through the Nidd for the town’s annual bed race.
Water quality in the Nidd is a hot topic: the Environment Agency designated Knaresborough Lido bathing water status in May 2024, which meant it was obliged to conduct weekly water samples during the bathing water season from May to September to test for Escherichia coli (E. coli) and intestinal enterococci, which are indicators of fecal matter.
E. coli levels frequently exceeded the safe levels of 900 colony-forming units per 100ml last year. On one occasion they reached 9,300 cfus. However, in the six tests so far this season E. coli levels have been below 900 cfus.
Despite this, Yorkshire Water increased water bills by an average of 29% in April this year.
Horticulturalist Anna Bryer, 58, a member of Harrogate Extinction Rebellion, said:
We should not ask runners to swim through a river when it’s such a huge health hazard, and not safe to swim in.
The river environment is being damaged beyond repair, and Yorkshire Water have put our bills up once again. Water is a basic human right that should be available to everyone, the water companies should be taken back into public ownership, nobody should be making a profit from water.
This banner was displayed.
Arnold Warneken, the Green Party councillor for Ouseburn on North Yorkshire Council, said it was time for Yorkshire Water to consider environmental protection as an opportunity rather than a threat. He added:
Our protest was well received by holidaymakers and traders alike. Clean river water means more visitors, more income and more jobs.”
The rivers are the veins carrying nature’s life blood and Yorkshire Water are injecting it with toxins killing it rendering life in it unsustainable.
Surely the shareholders should be starting to get the message that they will earn a greater return on their investment if they protect their assets. The purpose of a sewage system is to protect public health and it’s failing us miserably at the same time as bills are surging upwards.
0