Target reached!
If funds allow, we will do further testing to expand our investigation of potential ...
If funds allow, we will do further testing to expand our investigation of potential ...
To make the River Kent in Cumbria clean for water-based recreation and to protect wildlife, based on a citizen science testing programme
We are a group of communities living along the River Kent (Cumbria) established in Autumn 2021. We include members from Staveley, Burneside and Kendal.
There has been a lot of coverage in the local and national media about sewage pollution of rivers, lakes and beaches across the country and the failure of government and regulators to prevent this from happening.
Our campaign aims to significantly reduce the amount of untreated sewage effluent being discharged into the River Kent by United Utilities wastewater treatment works and/or storm overflows. We know there is a significant sewage overspill problem in the village of Staveley. A recent pollution event killed thousands of fish near the Kendal Waste Water Treatment plant in July 2021, and we understand that investigations into this are ongoing.
The River Kent is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The river is loved and enjoyed by many people for a range of recreational purposes. The river has been especially important for local people during the time of the pandemic, with many appreciating its natural beauty and wildlife.
The funds raised from this project will support a volunteer-led citizen science testing programme during the spring and summer of 2022. Water samples are being collected from 6 sites in Staveley, Beckmickle Ing Wood, Burneside, Kendal (Sandy Bottoms), Hawes Bridge and Sedgwick, and then tested for e.coli and enterococcus (two sewage-related bacteria) in an accredited laboratory. We have already completed an initial pilot phase, which was conducted to make sure the samples are collected and analysed to specific protocols and standards.
The campaign is planning to apply for DEFRA Bathing Water Designation Status for a site in Staveley in Autumn 2022. We are working closely with Ilkley Clean River Campaign which successfully obtained Bathing Water status for the River Wharfe in 2020. The River Wharfe designation was the first time this Status was obtained for a river, and many other communities like us are working to obtain this designation for their local river. Once designated, the Environment Agency will be required to test the water at this site for faecal bacteria and the local authority will have to make the information available to the public
To support this application we are also running surveys, volunteer training sessions, and consultation activities during the summer to prepare for the DEFRA application.
We have estimated the total cost of the campaign to be £8,200. This will cover the cost of the testing, transporting the tests to the laboratory, and some additional costs such as room hire for open events, volunteer training, and printing. We have already raised funding of £6,862 from successful applications to 2 local parish councils (Burneside and Staveley with Ings), Kendal Town Council, the Lake District Foundation, the Burneside Energy Company, and the Lakes Distillery. The money donated by this Crowdfunding campaign will make up the rest of the funds we need to run this campaign.
We have already had a fantastic response from local volunteers and communities and are really grateful for their help with the testing and surveys so far.
Please look at our Facebook page for more information about the campaign and how you can get involved, as well as to see the results from the testing programme. Thank you very much for your support.
This project successfully funded on 11th July 2022