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Shop NowFather and Son Team Up to Tackle River Pollution
If you’ve visited Paris, you might have enjoyed a romantic stroll along the banks of the River Seine. From its footpaths you can see iconic attractions like the Eiffel Tower, ornate bridges, and some beautiful parks. What you hopefully won’t see is the river pollution that blights the Seine, just like many other waterways. Luckily, one father and son team are doing something about it.
Tackling river pollution with a magnet
Most Saturdays, you’ll find 11-year-old Rafael Marinho and his dad on the banks of the Seine, pulling metal waste out of the water. To fish out waste like shopping trolleys and bicycles, they’ve fashioned a fishing line with a heavy-duty magnet on the end. Over two years, they have retrieved almost 20 tonnes of discarded metal from the river, including a revolver and a motorbike!
Rafael’s dad said what started out as some fun has now become a hobby with a purpose. He says that his son has always been close to nature and animals, so it doesn’t surprise him that he wants to do something to tackle river pollution.
Rafael boasts over 20,000 Instagram followers and hopes that his efforts will inspire others to take action. He even got a thank you from the French President Emmanuel Macron.
Pollution in UK rivers
Pollution is also a serious problem in UK rivers. From microplastics to wet wipes, sewage, and agricultural waste, manmade pollution is affecting water quality as well as harming aquatic life. Why does this matter so much?
We need water to survive
Think about all the things you use water for including cooking, drinking, and washing. Imagine not having access to clean and safe water.
Pollution affects water bills
If water is heavily contaminated, it needs heavy-duty treatment to make it safe. Water companies will pass those treatment costs onto customers.
Polluted water harms wildlife
According to the Wildlife Trusts, around 38% of fish in England and Wales are considered not fit to eat due to diseases caused by pollution. This obviously affects communities where fishing is the main economic activity.
River pollution affects human health
Wild swimmers and surfers are increasingly unable to take part in their outdoor pursuits because of poor water quality. In March this year, rowers taking part in the Oxford and Cambridge boat race became ill after exposure to E. coli in the water. This was thought to be from sewage released into the river.
What are the main causes of river pollution in the UK?
The main causes of pollution in UK rivers are:
- Agricultural fertiliser and pesticides: 40%
- Untreated sewage: 35%
- Run-off from roads and towns (when people pour oil down sinks or drains for example): 18%
Only 14% of rivers in the UK have good water quality and the worst water quality is recorded in heavily populated urban areas. Want to check the water quality in your area? Surfers Against Sewage offers a free app which tracks real-time sewage discharge and pollution risks at over 450 river and coastal locations.
What is being done about river pollution?
Despite the government outlining plans to reduce water pollution in its 2018 25-year Environment Plan, stories about sewage in rivers always seem to be in the headlines. Budget cuts have meant less monitoring and enforcement is being carried out by the Environment Agency, and allowing water companies to self-report sewage leaks is clearly not working. A Panorama investigation found that water companies dump huge amounts of sewage in our rivers every year and regulatory bodies fail to hold them to account.
For more interesting articles on the issues affecting our environment, check out the rest of our blog or our top articles
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Sources:
https://www.optimistdaily.com/2021/11/11-year-old-is-on-a-mission-to-clean-the-seine/
