Growing up in Shropshire, our rivers were places of joy and adventure. They were havens where children could swim, paddle, and spend long summer days. Today, those same waters are tainted. Pollution from sewage and phosphate runoff has turned what was once a source of life into a danger zone.

This isn’t just disheartening — it’s outrageous. Our rivers are being poisoned by repeated sewage discharges and agricultural runoff, with little meaningful accountability. Phosphate levels are out of control. Sewage spills are routine. Meanwhile, the natural environment, public health, and local trust are all being eroded.

According to the Environment Agency itself, many of Shropshire’s rivers now suffer from dangerous phosphate concentrations. These fuel toxic algae, reduce oxygen levels, and make the water hazardous to both people and wildlife.

In 2023 alone, Severn Trent logged over 62,000 sewage spills, 247 pollution incidents, and saw a 17% rise in water quality complaints. And yet, its CEO received £3.3 million, including a £15,000 “green travel” perk, while our rivers were defiled. The system is failing. It’s time to act.

⚖️ What We Demand

We call on the Environment Agency to take urgent enforcement action — and on DEFRA, Ofwat (and its upcoming successor), and Shropshire Council to support systemic change to protect Shropshire’s rivers.

🛑 Environment Agency

As the legal enforcer of water pollution rules, we demand that the EA:

1. Conduct immediate investigations into high-pollution areas across Shropshire’s rivers (especially the Severn, Clun, Rea, and Teme).
2. Enforce the Farming Rules for Water, including increased on-farm inspections and prosecutions for phosphate runoff violations.
3. Strengthen oversight of Severn Trent’s discharge permits, including real-time transparency of sewage spills.
4. Prosecute all illegal discharges and permit breaches — with meaningful penalties, not warnings.

🧑‍🌾 DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs)

We urge DEFRA to:

1. Tighten national rules on agricultural phosphate use and nutrient runoff.
2. Fund nature-based solutions and regenerative farming practices across Shropshire.
3. Designate more rivers in Shropshire as priority catchments for pollution reduction and farm regulation.

💷 Ofwat (Water Industry Regulator)

We ask Ofwat — and its upcoming replacement — to:

1. Reject any future business plans from Severn Trent that fail to include clear, funded action on pollution reduction.
2. Link Severn Trent’s performance targets to environmental outcomes, not just customer service.
3. Ensure any failure to meet environmental standards leads to financial penalties that support river restoration.

🏛️ Shropshire Council (Local Advocate)

We call on the Council to:

1. Use its planning powers to block or condition developments until adequate sewage treatment is guaranteed.
2. Partner with citizen science and catchment groups to collect and publish local water quality data.
3. Publicly lobby national regulators (EA, DEFRA, Ofwat) on behalf of residents to secure urgent action.

Together, these actions can restore the health of Shropshire’s rivers. We urge the Environment Agency to lead with enforcement, and call on all others to do their part to protect our water, our wildlife, and our communities.

🌍 Why It Matters

Our rivers are more than just watercourses. They are the lifeblood of Shropshire’s ecosystems, our communities, and our childhood memories. They deserve protection, not neglect.

If regulators won’t act, then we will hold them to account. We demand clean, safe rivers for wildlife, for future generations, and for every child who deserves to paddle without fear.

Sign this petition to demand environmental justice. The rivers of Shropshire can’t wait.