River Wriggle: Sewage
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the environmental impact of sewage discharges into the River Wriggle.
Answered by Emma Hardy
In 2019, the River Wriggle was assessed as having poor ecological health due to high levels of phosphate. In the River Wriggle, phosphate mainly comes from agricultural sources, but sewage discharges also contain phosphate from everyday chemicals such as washing detergents. In 2025, additional treatment was installed at Thornford Sewage Treatment Works to significantly reduce the amount of phosphate being released into the river. Early monitoring shows this has already reduced the amount of phosphate being released.
The river’s other chemical and biological indicators are assessed as ‘Good’ or ‘High’, and invertebrate communities remain high.
The river’s water quality continues to be regularly monitored, so any changes caused by sewage discharges can be spotted and further action taken if needed.
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