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11
Jul 2023
Volunteers turn out in force to support campaign for cleaner River Nidd
Conservationists, anglers, academics and residents turned out in force at Knaresborough yesterday to prepare to begin water sampling on the River Nidd.
Samples will be taken along the length of the river on August 3 and then again the following month.
The results will form part of a bid to achieve bathing water status on the Nidd, which would require agencies to take measures to improve water quality.
Yesterday's gathering near Conyngham Hall enabled volunteers to learn how to conduct accurate sampling.
It follows concerns about the state of the river, amid reports of bathers at Knaresborough Lido falling ill after entering the water.
Test kits were supplied by Yorkshire Dales River Trust, a charity based in Pateley Bridge that helped gather data for the River Wharfe's successful bid for bathing water status.
Charlotte Simons, a senior project manager at the trust, said the volunteers would test for nutrients, such as nitrates and phosphates, as well as bacteria, such as E coli. She added:
Charlotte Simons and David Clayden hold a test kit above the River Nidd.
David Clayden, chairman of Nidd Action Group, which was set up to co-ordinate the clean-up campaign, said:
Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, is also supporting the campaign.
He is co-ordinating efforts to monitor how much the river is used at the Lido.
A bid for bathing water status is expected to be submitted to the government in autumn.
Read more:
- Outrage over water firm’s response to concerns over quality of River Nidd
- More than 150 Nidderdale children take part in moorland education event
Yorkshire Water discharged sewage into the River Nidd 870 times last year, according to Environment Agency monitoring data.
The discharges lasted for a total of 6,177 hours. Dacre sewage pumping station alone saw 87 spills and 1,014 hours of sewage discharged.
By comparison, there were 318 spills into Oak Beck and Coppice Beck, which lasted for 438 hours.
Water companies are legally allowed to release sewage through overflow pipes when the sewage system becomes too full, which can happen during increased rainfall.
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