Innovative Project Takes on Chemical and Microbial Pollution in Regional Waterways

University of York Leads Citizen Science Project to Combat Water Pollution

A University of York-led citizen science project will monitor and address the “toxic cocktail of chemicals” in the region’s rivers and lakes. Over 1,700 members of the public will collaborate with academics, government officials, charities, and businesses in this large-scale initiative. The project will focus on monitoring waterways, raising awareness, and taking action to improve aquatic environments, benefiting both biodiversity and people. Researchers will develop new citizen science methods, expanding beyond traditional metrics like phosphate, nitrate, and pH, to include priority micropollutants such as pharmaceuticals and bacterial species. These methods will form a unified toolkit for data collection across nine Yorkshire waterbodies.

Dr John Wilkinson from the University of York’s Department of Environment and Geography emphasized that the project’s core aim is to empower local communities with knowledge and skills to better protect waterways.  He explained that the research will be based on six priority questions on public concern, addressing the state of Yorkshire’s aquatic environment improvement and ways to make citizen science more trustworthy, inclusive and sustainable. By providing the public with an easy-to-use environmental monitoring toolkit, the project seeks to overcome the limitations of traditional monitoring and improve data on environmental pollution, guiding future action.

According to the Environment Agency reports of nearly 1,000 water bodies in  Yorkshire, none have achieved the ‘good’ ecological or chemical status. Academics believe Yorkshire’s rivers and lakes suffer from a "toxic problem" of pollutants, with 27 of 982 monitored water bodies rated the worst possible, and none achieving the best rating. Dr Wilkinson emphasized that Yorkshire’s water bodies are crucial for biodiversity, public health, and drinking water. While healthy aquatic environments benefit both ecology and human well-being, rising pollution threatens biodiversity and community use. He noted that reduced funding for Environment Agency monitoring highlights the need for innovative environmental management solutions in response to growing public concern.

He expressed optimism about the project, by ensuring and verifying data quality, it could drive a shift in how citizen science data is valued and integrated into existing regulatory monitoring systems. He emphasized that uniting the public, academic, and industrial sectors offers the best chance to bring about meaningful change for aquatic environments. Dr. Wilkinson explained that the project will use innovative tools to involve the public in monitoring aquatic environments and prioritizing solutions. Starting this autumn, the four-year initiative is timely due to rising pollution, public concern, and cuts to the Environment Agency’s budget. He emphasized the opportunity to unite people, policymakers, and businesses in Yorkshire to improve local water bodies.

The research will evaluate solutions to improve water quality in Yorkshire’s rivers and lakes, including nature-based approaches, infrastructural upgrades, and stewardship efforts to reduce agricultural runoff. Community-driven solutions, such as amplifying public advocacy, will also be explored. The university will host annual "State of Yorkshire’s Aquatic Environments" conferences to bring together the public, government, academics, and businesses to share findings, prioritize solutions, and plan actions. Louise Heathwaite, Executive Chair of NERC, stated that the NERC Engaged Environmental Science programme will tackle issues like flooding, coastal erosion, and water pollution. Funding has been awarded to three projects co-led by local communities and scientists to develop natural solutions for habitats along the river Mersey, in Yorkshire, and the Outer Hebrides. Collaboration between the University of York, the Environment Agency, and Rivers Trust will be crucial for the research's lasting impact.

Geoff Roberts, trustee of the Aire Rivers Trust, highlighted that citizen science effectively engages communities and gathers data to identify solutions. He expressed enthusiasm about the project. David Miles, community engagement lead at Friends of Gledhow Valley Woods, said the initiative would enhance their understanding of water pollution in Gledhow Valley and drive action to improve water quality in the local beck, benefiting nature and the community. This science project took a promising approach to rejuvenating Yorkshire's rivers and lakes by addressing water pollution, raising awareness, and taking action to improve aquatic environments.

Editor's Note:

Yorkshire Water experienced an 83% increase in serious water pollution incidents in 2024 compared to 2023. The number of category one (most serious) pollution incidents rose from six in 2023 to eleven in 2024. This significant increase highlights the challenges Yorkshire Water faces in managing pollution and the resulting threat to biodiversity. In response, an innovative project led by the University of York aims to tackle water pollution in Yorkshire’s rivers and lakes through a large-scale citizen science initiative. This project, involving over 1,700 community members alongside academics and industry experts, seeks to create lasting improvements in water quality and environmental management. The collaboration between local communities, policymakers, and organizations underscores the importance of collective action in preserving vital aquatic ecosystems.

Skoobuzz commends these collective efforts by communities and acknowledges the prompt actions taken to protect the biodiversity of Yorkshire’s water bodies.