**River Wriggle Water Quality Observation Report**
Firstly, a big thank you to everyone who has signed the petition, shared the campaign and shown their support. Your involvement is helping bring attention to the condition of the River Wriggle and the need for proper protection of our waterways.
During a routine walk this morning I noticed that the river level had risen slightly compared with the previous day. However, the water was noticeably more discoloured and cloudy. In several calmer sections of the river there were visible patches of brown foam and scum gathering along the banks.
This was particularly concerning because there have been no recorded Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) discharges for several days, making the deterioration in water clarity unusual.
To investigate further I travelled upstream to Leigh, above the pumping station, where I examined the river again. At this location the water was very cloudy, brown in appearance and foam was present in places, suggesting the issue was affecting a wider stretch of the river.
I reported these observations to the Environment Agency, providing photographs and video evidence of the conditions observed. I also spoke with the Agencyand described the condition of the river.
Approximately one hour later I received a response by email from the Agency stating that, based solely on the images provided, the conditions appeared to be “normal”. No site visit had been undertaken and no water samples had been taken.
The Agency advised that the cloudy water and foam could be caused by natural organic material in the river and provided an information sheet referring to Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC).
Dissolved Organic Carbon is formed from natural organic material that has broken down and dissolved in water.
Sources can include:
Decaying leaves and vegetation
Organic matter within soil
Algae and microorganisms
Animal waste
In some circumstances, sewage or agricultural runoff
Because DOC is dissolved within the water it can pass through extremely fine filters and remains mixed throughout the water column.
DOC is an important indicator of water quality and ecological health within river systems.
Elevated DOC levels can:
Cause water to appear brown, tea-coloured or cloudy
Reduce light penetration, affecting aquatic plants
Increase bacterial activity, which consumes oxygen in the water
Transport nutrients or pollutants
React during water treatment processes to form potentially harmful by-products
Within a river system such as the River Wriggle, DOC levels can increase due to several factors, including:
Sewage discharges
Agricultural runoff
Decomposition of vegetation and organic matter
Given the ongoing concerns regarding sewage infrastructure and river health in the Wriggle Valley, continued monitoring and independent water testing will be important to properly understand the causes of these changes in water quality.