Cleaner Nidd, Fit for Life
Nidd Action Group
More Extensive Sampling at The Lido, Knaresborough!
A nationwide project is starting up at UK freshwater Bathing Water sites, including The Lido at Knaresborough.
A collaboration between Watershed Investigations WATERSHED Investigations - in-depth coverage of the water crisis , the University of York, and Surfers Against Sewage aims to establish a more in depth understanding of the water quality at UK Bathing Waters than is currently happening through the Environment Agency's weekly sampling.
The project envisage taking two samples a day from the same location that EA uses, for a week in July.
The water samples will be laboratory-analyzed for E.coli (with eDNA (Microbial Source Tracking) to differentiate between human and animal based pollution), nutrient chemicals and pharmaceuticals including forever chemicals.
Nidd Action Group has joined the project and will be doing the sampling at The Lido according to a University of York protocol (similar I suspect to that NAG used earlier this year in the pilot survey we did on Bilton Beck)
As this is just at one location, NAG won't need a large numbers of samplers as in last year's river-length samplings. However if you'd like to be involved, or kept in detailed touch, contact NAG at info@niddactiongroup.org
A collaboration between Watershed Investigations WATERSHED Investigations - in-depth coverage of the water crisis , the University of York, and Surfers Against Sewage aims to establish a more in depth understanding of the water quality at UK Bathing Waters than is currently happening through the Environment Agency's weekly sampling.
The project envisage taking two samples a day from the same location that EA uses, for a week in July.
The water samples will be laboratory-analyzed for E.coli (with eDNA (Microbial Source Tracking) to differentiate between human and animal based pollution), nutrient chemicals and pharmaceuticals including forever chemicals.
Nidd Action Group has joined the project and will be doing the sampling at The Lido according to a University of York protocol (similar I suspect to that NAG used earlier this year in the pilot survey we did on Bilton Beck)
As this is just at one location, NAG won't need a large numbers of samplers as in last year's river-length samplings. However if you'd like to be involved, or kept in detailed touch, contact NAG at info@niddactiongroup.org
Our Aims
A Cleaner Nidd, Fit for Life
Make rivers safe for all.
Rivers should be safe for everyone - from invertebrates (which are a vital part of the food chain) to fish, birds, animals and people.
Stop sewage pollution.
End the illegal release of untreated sewage into the River Nidd
Raise the bar.
Improve standards, so legally discharged waste doesn't harm the River Nidd
Where are we at
'A summary of NAG's 2023' Read the Stray Ferret article here
- A bid has been submitted for Designated Bathing Water Status for The Lido. Read more here and here
- 'The Lido now has designated Bathing Water Status as a result of community pressure, and Environment Agency is undertaking weekly E. Coli samples. To see the latest results Bathing water quality
- Yorkshire Water have proposed investment in sewage treatment and the sewerage network in their business plan for 2025-2030 Read more here and here.
- A document from January 2024 summarises very briefly what NAG did in 2023, with links to two maps showing the results of our sampling in terms of human health and chemical pollution at the 45 locations sampled. View it here. The document also identifies what we don't yet know and therefore what we need to do to fill in those gaps in our knowledge during 2024 and beyond, building on what we have discovered during our 2023 surveys Detailed specific plans based on this analysis will develop over the next few months
Recent News
3rd October 2024
Lido Bathing Water Safety Update
The bathing water season has ended for the Nidd at Knaresborough's Lido (though not for Knaresborough's hardy wild swimmers, who keep swimming throughout the year)
That means that Environment Agency weekly monitoring for E. coli concentrations (a marker for risk to human health when swimming) ceases. There is still one more data value to be published. Bathing water profile (data.gov.uk)
The latest available concentration on September 20th is 1700 cfus
Above 900 cfus the water is regarded as POOR for swimming, and requires investigation and improvement
Of the 20 samples taken so far 75% have shown POOR quality, with extreme concentrations of 9300 on July 15th and 5800 on September 10th.
This link provides more details of NAG's activities at the Lido and along the whole of the river Nidd, and the research into the Nidd that NAG is involved with, including some results we are expecting within weeks.
Now we await the Environment Agency and Yorkshire Water's response to this information, and NAG intends to work closely with them and other stakeholders to make rapid and sustainable improvements in water quality
The bathing water season has ended for the Nidd at Knaresborough's Lido (though not for Knaresborough's hardy wild swimmers, who keep swimming throughout the year)
That means that Environment Agency weekly monitoring for E. coli concentrations (a marker for risk to human health when swimming) ceases. There is still one more data value to be published. Bathing water profile (data.gov.uk)
The latest available concentration on September 20th is 1700 cfus
Above 900 cfus the water is regarded as POOR for swimming, and requires investigation and improvement
Of the 20 samples taken so far 75% have shown POOR quality, with extreme concentrations of 9300 on July 15th and 5800 on September 10th.
This link provides more details of NAG's activities at the Lido and along the whole of the river Nidd, and the research into the Nidd that NAG is involved with, including some results we are expecting within weeks.
Now we await the Environment Agency and Yorkshire Water's response to this information, and NAG intends to work closely with them and other stakeholders to make rapid and sustainable improvements in water quality
26th September
6th September 2024
22 August 2024
OFWAT fine and the future of the Nidd
The whopping fine by OFWAT to Yorkshire Water is now a couple of weeks old. NAG has held back its comments to let the dust settle before providing some rational suggestions for what needs to change in order to have improved river water quality.
We have met with our new MP, Tom Gordon, at The Lido, see the attached NAG briefing document we provided for him.
NAG has a meeting arranged in early September with the Head of Yorkshire Water's River Health team
Collaborative activities with the major stakeholders, organised by YDRT and NAG, are being discussed in September.
We are working hard with others to improve the Nidd
The whopping fine by OFWAT to Yorkshire Water is now a couple of weeks old. NAG has held back its comments to let the dust settle before providing some rational suggestions for what needs to change in order to have improved river water quality.
We have met with our new MP, Tom Gordon, at The Lido, see the attached NAG briefing document we provided for him.
NAG has a meeting arranged in early September with the Head of Yorkshire Water's River Health team
Collaborative activities with the major stakeholders, organised by YDRT and NAG, are being discussed in September.
We are working hard with others to improve the Nidd
22 August 2024
Historical report by BCG on pollution in Oak Beck.
Keith Wilkinson and his colleagues from the Bilton Conservation Group produced this report in 2022 about pollution in Oak Beck, Harrogate over the years.
BCG have worked for decades, and continue to work on getting the beck clean and healthy.
This report was submitted to the leaders of DEFRA, OFWAT, North Yorkshire County Council and Yorkshire Water in an attempt to get some action to improve the river.
The report contains a wealth of relevant information for us all to guide continuing efforts to improve the river.
Keith Wilkinson and his colleagues from the Bilton Conservation Group produced this report in 2022 about pollution in Oak Beck, Harrogate over the years.
BCG have worked for decades, and continue to work on getting the beck clean and healthy.
This report was submitted to the leaders of DEFRA, OFWAT, North Yorkshire County Council and Yorkshire Water in an attempt to get some action to improve the river.
The report contains a wealth of relevant information for us all to guide continuing efforts to improve the river.
28th July 2024
22nd July 2024
13th July 2024
9thth July 2024
3rd July 2024
Upcoming event "The River Wharfe: its wonders and its woes"
Saturday July 20th from 1.30 onwards at St Peters Church Hall, Addingham, Ilkley
An afternoon (and evening if you want some hands on outdoors stuff) all about the Wharfe. Displays, talks and discussion details attached
The Wharfe, the Nidd's bigger neighbour, was the inspiration for NAG's citizen science work and getting Bathing Water Status.
They are a great bunch of people and we still have a lot to learn from them. I am going! More details here
Saturday July 20th from 1.30 onwards at St Peters Church Hall, Addingham, Ilkley
An afternoon (and evening if you want some hands on outdoors stuff) all about the Wharfe. Displays, talks and discussion details attached
The Wharfe, the Nidd's bigger neighbour, was the inspiration for NAG's citizen science work and getting Bathing Water Status.
They are a great bunch of people and we still have a lot to learn from them. I am going! More details here
5th June 2024
17 May 2024
13 May 2024
Listen to NAG's wild swimmers plus David Clayden talking with Jim Addyman of Radio York about the background to NAG's origins and the point of getting Bathing Water status for The Lido (interviews are at approx 07:08am and 08:09am on the bulletin)