Everyday Action

One of the most common things our volunteers clean up is wet wipes. Flushed down toilets by householders, these find their way through sewage overflows into our becks and rivers. You can play your part in encouraging others to bin, not flush, wipes and to explore alternatives.

Everyday Action Quiz

We can all help clean our river clean with little everyday actions. Your local river starts in your home. The rainwater that falls in your home goes down the drain to the river and on to the sea. And everything that goes down your toilet and sink flows with it to sewage treatment plants. Even if you cannot see the sea from your home you are directly connected to it.

How many of these will you do? Are you a river defender or a river monster?

1. Pick up dog poo. No one likes dog poo especially rivers. Bag it and bin it to make riverside paths a pleasant place to visit. Count me in Not for me

2. Take your litter home. Plastic litter will breakdown in the environment. Fish feed on shiny microplastics causing them harm or to go hungry. Count me in Not for me

3. Save water at home. Using less water in your home means more is left for rivers. And it saves you money too. Take showers instead of baths or turn off the tap when you brush your teeth. Count me in Not for me

4. Catch rain in your garden. Reducing the amount of rain that rushes to the drain stops flooding. Install water butts to save water for a dry day or create a pond or wetland garden. Count me in Not for me

5. Dispose of wet wipes in the bin. There are lots of different sorts of wipes now to clean baby’s bottoms and our homes. Wet wipes and sanitary products block drains and end up together with sewage in our streams and waterways. Count me in Not for me

6. Dispose of chemicals carefully. White spirit and paint poured down the drain may end up in the river. Here they kill wildlife. Dispose of chemicals at local household waste centres. Count me in Not for me

7. Wash cars on gravel or grass where soapy water can soak away. Or go to the car wash. Many surface water drains along our streets go straight into our streams. Count me in Not for me

8. Report River Pollution. If looks or smells funny, ring it in. Call 0800 807060 to report sewage smells, milky coloured water or distressed fish to the Environment Agency Count me in Not for me

9. Stop fly tippers. Fly tipping block streams and causes flooding. Please ask waste collection companies to show they hold permits. Call your local Council’s Environment Enforcement Team to report flytipping. Count me in Not for me

10. Explore your local river. Enjoy your local river and encourage others to do so too. Walking, fishing or joining us on a volunteer day a wonderful ways to be by water. Count me in Not for me

Walkers and anglers along the river can watch for pollution as well as wildlife. If you observe milky or oily water or smell foul odours report them to the Environment Agency on 0800 807060.

Fly tipping should be reported to your local council.

Volunteers from The Aire Rivers Trust work with others to tackle invasive non native species. You can help us by reporting sightings of Japanese Knotweed and Giant Hogweed.

REPORTING FLY TIPPING IN BRADFORD >

REPORTING FLY TIPPING IN LEEDS >

REPORTING FLY TIPPING IN CRAVEN >

Find out more about reporting pollution

click here

Find out more about reporting invasive non-native species

click here

© Copyright Aire Rivers Trust 2020
The Aire Rivers Trust is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales No: 07464227 and a Registered Charity No: 1145609
Registered Office at: 38 Morton Lane, East Morton, Keighley BD20 5RS