River Action

River Action

@riveractionuk.bsky.social

River Action is a UK-based environmental campaigning body committed to rescuing the UK's rivers. http://www.riveractionuk.com/

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River Action
@riveractionuk.bsky.social

🚨 STOP BIG CHICKEN CHOKING OUR RIVERS Big Chicken: A Fast Food Conspiracy has landed on Netflix, exposing the hidden costs of our obsession with cheap chicken. Here in the UK, our rivers are already paying the price. SIGN THE PETITION: bit.ly/4xhkuaz 🧵 1/2...

River Action reposted

Friends of the River Wye
@friendsriverwye.bsky.social

A glimpse of our Monday. We travelled from the Wye Valley to Westminster to lobby our MPs and ask them to challenge the government’s proposed Poultry Growth Strategy. This plan is being dreamed up (nightmared up 🧟‍♂️🐔) by Defra and the Big Chicken lobby without any community engagement.

River Action reposted

Brian McHugh
@brianmchugh.bsky.social

Revealed: the ‘black box’ wastewater trade that rakes in millions for UK utility companies Firms made more than £340m last year from processing industrial and commercial wastewater at sewage works that are unable to remove many chemical pollutants www.theguardian.com/environment/...

theguardian.comRevealed: the ‘black box’ wastewater trade that rakes in millions for UK utility companiesExclusive: Firms made more than £340m last year from processing industrial and commercial wastewater at sewage works that are unable to remove many chemical pollutants

River Action reposted

The Guardian
@theguardian.com

Revealed: the ‘black box’ wastewater trade that rakes in millions for UK utility companies

theguardian.comRevealed: the ‘black box’ wastewater trade that rakes in millions for UK utility companiesExclusive: Firms made more than £340m last year from processing industrial and commercial wastewater at sewage works that are unable to remove many chemical pollutants Water companies in the UK made more than £340m in revenue last year by pouring billions of litres of industrial and commercial wastewater into sewage treatment works that experts say are not designed to remove most chemicals, leaving pollutants to pass into rivers, seas and farmland. Water companies are required by law to take industrial wastewater and issue permits called “trade-effluent consents” that allow businesses to send it to sewage works, though water companies can refuse applications. Continue reading...
River Action
@riveractionuk.bsky.social

🚨 Water companies have made at least £1.4 BILLION from industrial wastewater in just six years. Our investigation with @watershed-i.bsky.social uncovered 26,131 consents allowing up to 607.6 BILLION litres of industrial wastewater into sewage works last year. 😵 riveractionuk.com/news/water-c...

riveractionuk.comWater Companies' £1.4bn Industrial Wastewater TradeWater companies earned at least £1.4bn from industrial wastewater over six years. Our investigation exposes the hidden trade and gaps in pollution regulation.
River Action
@riveractionuk.bsky.social

🧪 The industrial wastewater can contain substances including PFAS and pharmaceuticals. These chemicals enter our waterways and contaminate sewage sludge, which is spread on our land and used to grow our food. 🤢 Yet there is no independent regulator overseeing individual trade-effluent consents. 😕

River Action
@riveractionuk.bsky.social

We couldn’t have put it better ourselves, Stewart Lee. 🐔💩 We’re calling for an end to the reckless expansion of industrial poultry production and for Big Chicken to take responsibility for the waste it produces. Got a minute to spare? Make it count. Sign our Big Chicken petition 👉 bit.ly/4xhkuaz

River Action
@riveractionuk.bsky.social

🚨 CAMPAIGN UPDATE: We’ve been granted permission to intervene in a major legal case focused on the pollution of Lough Neagh. We’ll now bring our legal and policy expertise to court to help challenge whether the regulatory system is doing enough. 👇 riveractionuk.com/news/lough-n...

riveractionuk.comLough Neagh Pollution: River Action Legal Challenge UpdateRiver Action has been granted permission to intervene in a major legal challenge over Lough Neagh pollution from agriculture, sewage and nutrient runoff.
River Action
@riveractionuk.bsky.social

Labour has promised to clean up our rivers. So why are senior ministers attending a KFC-sponsored rally while the Government considers plans that could expand intensive poultry farming? 🐔 Read the full story and find out what River Action is calling for: 👇 riveractionuk.com/news/labour-...

riveractionuk.comLabour’s Clean Rivers Promise vs Poultry Expansion | River ActionLabour promised to clean up England’s rivers. So why are ministers backing poultry growth while KFC sponsors a LabourList rally? River Action demands answers.
River Action
@riveractionuk.bsky.social

MORE CHICKEN. SAME OLD SH💩T. The Government wants to expand intensive poultry farming. Their plan for all the extra waste? Good question.. 🤔 So we’ve been outside on the streets with a simple message: 📢 Serious about cleaning up our rivers? STOP the expansion of Big Chicken.

River Action
@riveractionuk.bsky.social

🚨 Thames Water is in crisis. So what happens next? Our new paper, The Thames Water Test, explains why we’re calling on the Government and Ofwat to place Thames Water into Special Administration and what could come next 👇 riveractionuk.com/news/campaig...

riveractionuk.comThames Water Special Administration: Our Campaign Steps UpRiver Action steps up its campaign for Thames Water Special Administration with a new report, public action and The Tiger Who Came for Our Water.

River Action reposted

Fidra
@fidrango.bsky.social

🚨 What are the economic risks of spreading contaminated sewage sludge on farmland? New research by eftec reveals that future sludge management policy must consider long-term protection of our soils. ⬇️Learn more Report: fidra.org.uk/download/eft... Blog: fidra.org.uk/news/eftec-r...

fidra.org.ukNew eftec research: Economic risk of contaminated biosolid applications - FidraThis research compares the economic implications of spreading treated sewage sludge (biosolids) on UK farmland with four alternative treatment routes, focusing on microplastics, PFAS and pharmaceutica...
River Action
@riveractionuk.bsky.social

1/3. For years, Thames Water has been feeding a very greedy tiger. Billions in debt. Ageing infrastructure starved of investment. Failing pipes. Polluted rivers. But the next chapter of the story doesn't have to be with more of the same. 🧵

River Action
@riveractionuk.bsky.social

2/3. The Prime Minister has a choice: prop up the same failed system – or use Special Administration to create the space for real change. A chance to rebuild Thames Water to serve customers and protect our rivers – not private financial interests.

River Action
@riveractionuk.bsky.social

🚨 Reservoirs are drying up. Farmers are warning of food shortages. But at least the golf courses are green.. We need to get our priorities straight: essential public supplies, sustainable food production & healthy rivers MUST come before non-essential uses. 🔽 🔽 www.theguardian.com/environment/...

theguardian.comOne in 12 golf clubs in England broke water extraction rules in past five yearsMore than 140 clubs breached licences, with a third caught taking water illegally, analysis shows – but no fines issued

River Action reposted

Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming
@sustainweb.org

Sustain joins call led by @riveractionuk.bsky.social to reject further expansion of industrial poultry farming and support a more sustainable future for the sector. www.sustainweb.org/news/sep26-g...

sustainweb.orgGovernment urged to rethink growth plan for industrial poultry farming | SustainSustain joins call led by River Action to reject further expansion of industrial poultry farming and use the forthcoming Poultry Sector Growth Plan to support a more sustainable future for the sector.

River Action reposted

Plasticfree NW Leeds- Climate Kirsty 🐟🐝🇪🇺
@plasticfreenwleeds.bsky.social

My new article, please do share it’s damning on Yorkshire Water and the Environment Agency #DirtyBusiness #SewageCrisis #pollution

Yorkshire Bylines@yorkshirebylines.co.uk

Yorkshire’s dirty business: will the region’s mayors hold polluters to account? Environment Agency disclosures reveal low attendance at reported pollution incidents and sharp changes between initial and final assessments, intensifying questions about oversight and accountability By Kirsty Tucker

yorkshirebylines.co.ukYorkshire’s dirty business: will the region’s mayors hold polluters to account?Environment Agency disclosures reveal low attendance at reported pollution incidents and sharp changes between initial and final assessments, intensifying questions about oversight and accountability
River Action
@riveractionuk.bsky.social

📢 FINAL CALL! This week @sascampaigns.bsky.social are taking the voices of over 330,00 people directly to No.10 and calling on Andy Burnham to end the #sewagescandal. The public are watching – it’s now time to deliver. Sign the petition NOW: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/en... #EndSewagePollution

you.38degrees.org.ukEnd the sewage pollution scandalIt’s shocking how water companies have gotten away with polluting our waterways with sewage. That’s why more than 319,000 of us have signed the petition demanding an end to the sewage scandal. We’re...

River Action reposted

38 Degrees
@38degrees.bsky.social

Replying to @38degrees.bsky.social

Watch ‘Big Chicken’ on Netflix, and sign our petition with @riveractionuk.bsky.social to demand ministers scrap the 'Poultry Growth Plan': you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/st...

you.38degrees.org.ukStop Big Chicken Choking our RiversWatching Big Chicken: A Fast Food Conspiracy, I was shocked to see the damage the chicken industry is doing to rivers, communities and animals. And now I’ve learned the Government wants to expand Big…
River Action
@riveractionuk.bsky.social

🚨 NEWS! We’re taking the Government to court. Today, the High Court granted River Action permission to challenge the Government over its failure to publish a clear policy for dealing with failing water companies.. 1/2. 🧵

River Action
@riveractionuk.bsky.social

2/2. Today’s ruling means our challenge can now proceed to a full hearing - an important step towards greater transparency and accountability in England’s water industry. riveractionuk.com/news/campaig... #LegalAction #RescueOurRivers #EndSewagePollution

riveractionuk.comGovernment Faces Legal Challenge Over Special Administration PolicyThe High Court has granted River Action permission to challenge the Government over its failure to publish a Special Administration Regime policy for water companies.One small editorial point: I’d als...
River Action
@riveractionuk.bsky.social

🚨 The pollution they leave out of the picture. Behind glossy food ads, factory farming is fuelling a pollution crisis in our rivers. That’s why we’ve joined #GagBigAg - calling time on ads that hide the true cost of factory-farmed food. Watch. Share. Join the campaign: www.gagbigag.org.uk

River Action
@riveractionuk.bsky.social

Hey @thameswater.bsky.social, heard you're giving away £1 million? Not like you are in £20bn of debt or anything.. This week, I've ✅ cancelled a free trial before it renewed and ✅ survived an entire Teams meeting without saying "you're on mute" Could I have £1 million too, please?

The Guardian@theguardian.com

Thames Water faces row over £1m payment to finance chief

theguardian.comThames Water faces row over £1m payment to finance chiefCampaign group says firm is ‘taking the mickey’ by paying fee and Andy Burnham should nationalise it * Business live – latest updates Thames Water has paid its chief financial officer, Steve Buck, a £1m signing fee despite intense scrutiny of Britain’s biggest water company’s finances as it tries to avoid being taken into public control. The utility revealed that it made the payment last month, in a letter sent last week by Sir Adrian Montague, its chair, to MPs on the environment, food and rural affairs select committee, Sky News first reported. Continue reading...
River Action
@riveractionuk.bsky.social

Hey Nando's ... remember us? 👀 Industrial chicken farming is one of the biggest threats to our rivers. Millions of tonnes of chicken manure are polluting our waterways, fuelling algal blooms and choking the life out of our rivers... 1/3. 🧵 SIGN THE PETITION: bit.ly/4xhkuaz

River Action
@riveractionuk.bsky.social

2/3. If you buy around 30 million chickens a year - like Nando’s - the public deserves to know one thing: 💩 Where's all the muck going? Nando's. Tesco. KFC. Every major chicken retailer. 🐔 Don't chicken out... 🧵

River Action
@riveractionuk.bsky.social

If we want clean rivers, we can’t ignore #BigChicken Industrial poultry is polluting our waterways while the biggest players escape accountability. Join thousands calling for change. 👇 Sign our Big Chicken petition and demand action to protect our rivers: bit.ly/4xhkuaz

38 Degrees@38degrees.bsky.social

We try to be good neighbours, Big Chicken says, while literally polluting our rivers to death. Watch Netflix's new show 'Big Chicken: A Fast Food Conspiracy' then get over to River Action's petition to save our waterways from industrial chicken farming.

River Action reposted

38 Degrees
@38degrees.bsky.social

Replying to @38degrees.bsky.social

‘Big Chicken’ is out today on Netflix. Sign our petition to demand ministers ditch the 'Poultry Growth Plan' and support farming that protects our rivers: bit.ly/451p0xU

bit.lyStop Big Chicken Choking our RiversOur rivers can't take any more Big Chicken. Now is the time to act, not plan to make the problem worse. Across the UK, rivers are already paying the price for industrial chicken farming. Every year,…
River Action
@riveractionuk.bsky.social

🚨 STOP BIG CHICKEN CHOKING OUR RIVERS Big Chicken: A Fast Food Conspiracy has landed on Netflix, exposing the hidden costs of our obsession with cheap chicken. Here in the UK, our rivers are already paying the price. SIGN THE PETITION: bit.ly/4xhkuaz 🧵 1/2...

River Action
@riveractionuk.bsky.social

2/3. Every year, more than 1 BN chickens are reared in the UK, producing 3.5 M tonnes of muck. In many areas, there's already more waste than the land can absorb. When rain washes this pollution into rivers, it fuels toxic algal blooms, kills wildlife and damages precious habitats.🧵 bit.ly/4xhkuaz

bit.lyStop Big Chicken Choking our RiversOur rivers can't take any more Big Chicken. Now is the time to act, not plan to make the problem worse. Across the UK, rivers are already paying the price for industrial chicken farming. Every year, o...
River Action
@riveractionuk.bsky.social

🚨 Meet Big Chicken - a powerful industrial system producing more than 1 BILLION chickens in the UK every year. Together, those birds generate an estimated 3.5M tonnes of 💩 a year – and often our rivers are left to deal with the consequences.. 1/2. riveractionuk.com/news/factory...

riveractionuk.comFactory Farming UK: How Big Chicken Is Polluting RiversDiscover how factory farming and intensive poultry production are polluting UK rivers, driving nutrient pollution and threatening wildlife across the country.
River Action
@riveractionuk.bsky.social

🚨 Thames Water’s CEO says sewage pollution is inevitable and the targets are “not realistic.” No, Chris. What’s unrealistic is expecting the public to keep accepting excuse after excuse while our rivers are treated as collateral damage by a failed, debt-ridden, profit-first model.. 1/2. 🧵

River Action reposted

George Monbiot
@georgemonbiot.bsky.social

I wrote this last year, but as nothing has been done to address the underlying issues, it remains, unfortunately, just as relevant today. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

theguardian.comHigh water bills, filthy rivers – and now drought. This is England's great artificial water crisis of 2025 | George MonbiotIn its refusal to nationalise water, it’s clear the government operates in the interests of private capital and not of the country, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
River Action
@riveractionuk.bsky.social

🚨 RIVER ACTION INVESTIGATION: The hidden water scandal behind Britain's hosepipe bans. Millions of households are being told to use less water. But our investigation reveals a much bigger story... 🔽 🔽 #WaterCrisis riveractionuk.com/news/hosepip...

riveractionuk.comMillions face hosepipe bans while businesses hold licences to abstract 43 trillion litres as water demand grows - River Action UKWhy asking households to use less water won’t solve the crisis Millions of households across England and Wales are being told not to water gardens, wash cars or fill paddling pools with hosepipes, whi...

River Action reposted

George Monbiot
@georgemonbiot.bsky.social

This week's column explains how successive Environment Secretaries in the UK have been actively facilitating ecocide on behalf of industrial lobbyists. Charged with protecting the living world, one after another has been working for the enemy. This has to change.🧵 www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

theguardian.comBesieged by lobbyists, will UK ministers protect our ecosystems? No, they’ll chicken out | George MonbiotIndustrial poultry farming is killing our rivers. But rather than stop it, the government has been facilitating it. Will Andy Burnham end this ecocide, asks Guardian columnist George Monbiot
River Action
@riveractionuk.bsky.social

🚨 A new Prime Minister. A public that’s had enough. As Andy Burnham enters Downing Street, new polling reveals overwhelming support for an end to England’s shareholder-first water system. The public verdict is clear: people & rivers MUST come before profit. riveractionuk.com/news/yougov-...

riveractionuk.comNew YouGov Poll Shows Strong Support for Public Interest ReformNew YouGov polling commissioned by River Action reveals 77% of the public support water companies operating in the public interest, not for shareholders.

River Action reposted

We Own It
@weownit.org.uk

The public is clear what they want to happen with Thames Water MPs are clear too. And they are standing up and demanding that the government take it into special administration. Share this if you agree with them.

River Action
@riveractionuk.bsky.social

What if changing the future of our rivers didn't start in a council chamber... but on a walk? 👣💙 Last year's River Medway pilgrimage helped inspire the UK's first Rights of Nature Framework. As Zofia Page writes: "People change conversations. Conversations change institutions." 🔗 - bit.ly/4wFYeqx

kit.riveractionuk.comFrom Pilgrimage to Policy: How Walking the River Medway Helped Catalyse the UK's First Rights of Nature Framework - River Action: River Rescue KitDiscover how the River Medway Pilgrimage helped inspire Maidstone Borough Council to adopt the UK's first Rights of Nature Framework for local government.