Protest against Southern Water's discharge into River Test

Riverkeepers, river groups, environmental organisations and residents joined together outside Southern Water’s Fullerton Wastewater Treatment Works on Monday, March 18.

The protest follows what is said to be an "alarming increase" in discharges of untreated wastewater into the river. Campaigners have said that this is causing "serious damage" to the river’s ecological and socio-economic value.

The protest was organised to raise awareness of the situation and to campaign against further damage to the unique chalk stream river.

People gathered outside the main gate of the Fullerton treatment plant where group leaders aired their concerns. 

READ MORE: Live updates from protest against wastewater discharges into River Test

Houghton parish councillor Alistair Dougall, who helped spearhead the Test Valley Pan Parish River Pollution Forum, said: "Southern Water has been pumping raw sewage, untreated sewage water, into the river and they are killing the wildlife. Not just the fish but insect life as well, that affects bird life, and also it's becoming polluted so it's not for pets and children to go into the river." 

Cllr Dougall claimed that Southern Water is "gradually poisoning" the river. 

The Crown actor and founder of Activist Anglers, James Murray, said he was at the protest to support the riverkeepers and the wider communities around the Test. 

He told the Advertiser: "This protest should hopefully make a difference, as all protests should, because together we are stronger and we are here raising our voices against this long-standing issue."

James said that people are "emotionally frustrated, angry and upset" by the situation. 

Riverkeeper James Buckley said: "We are trying to get people aware of what Southern Water are doing. We want to try and stop the damage that is being caused, this pollution is doing damage to the wildlife, to the river and everything surrounding it." 

WildFish CEO Nick Measham told the Advertiser: "I care about the River Test, but I care about all rivers across the country, and as a result of a lack of investment by Southern Water and by other water companies, we are seeing sewage entering our rivers when it shouldn't be."

Wildfish is the only independent charity in the UK campaigning for wild fish and their environment.

Angling Trust ‘s head of policy Martin Salter, The Test and Itchen River Association executive director Paul Vignaux, Hampshire River Keepers Association chairman Pete Farrow, former F1 boss and vice president of WildFish Ross Brawn, and leaders Angling Trust were also among the representatives of several groups who took part in the protest.

A group of protesters then went to the site near The Mayfly pub, in Stockbridge, where Southern Water is continuing to discharge untreated groundwater into River Test.

SEE ALSO: Protest planned against wastewater discharge into River Test

Members of Test and Itchen River Association conducted a live kit sampling of the water near the discharge site. The members said the test showed that ammonium and phosphate levels were “dangerously” high.

River Test is one of the world’s most iconic chalk streams, but less than only 18 per cent of it is in ‘favourable’ condition.

The protesters say the pollution and over-abstraction taking place on River Test by Southern Water is not only causing significant damage to the river’s environment but also to the local people and economy.