Cotswolds Rivers Trust is calling for urgent action to protect freshwater ecosystems
The findings from an Earthwatch Europe led-study have revealed high levels of tyre-related pollutants in every road-side water sample taken from the Evenlode and Windrush catchments—a stark warning about the potential scale of road run-off pollution in our region.
This pilot study, undertaken by citizen scientists from the Cotswolds Rivers Trust and Evenlode Catchment Partnership, and supported by Emissions Analytics, highlights the widespread presence of harmful rubber compounds, antioxidants, and stabilizers washing from our roads into our rivers. These pollutants, including chemicals known to bioaccumulate and harm aquatic life, pose a serious and growing threat to freshwater ecosystems.
Not only were these pollutants found in all the samples but many were at a level above the ‘predicted no-effect concentration’, whereby they could present a risk to aquatic life. Long-term exposure could drive biodiversity loss, compounding the crisis already facing our freshwater environments.
Jack Knott, Trust Manager for the Cotswolds Rivers Trust, said: “Our road network was built to drain water as quickly as possible—often straight into the nearest river. As a result, everyday road use is contributing to the already high levels of pollution in our freshwater ecosystems.
“The Cotswolds Rivers Trust is urging the Environment Agency, National Highways, and local authorities to step up and take responsibility. There needs to be stronger action to monitor, and mitigate road run-off pollution to reduce the risk of damage to our rivers and the species that depend on them.”
Sasha Woods, Director of Science and Policy at Earthwatch Europe, said: “Earthwatch wants to see action on all sources of pollution; agriculture, sewage discharges and urban run-off. The results of this pilot study are alarming, and further investigation is needed into the chemicals polluting our precious waterways. Earthwatch is already planning further investigations into this issue, working with citizen scientists to collect data.
“We want National Highways to start taking action to address road run-off and for the Environment Agency to invest resources into monitoring this form of pollution. This pilot study has shown that citizen scientists are powerful advocates for their local rivers and we want to see better use of the data that they generate.”
The Cotswolds Rivers Trust is actively seeking to collaborate with local authorities and landowners to implement natural filtration solutions, such as attenuation ponds and wetlands, to capture and treat road run-off before it reaches our rivers. These measures will help reduce pollution, protect freshwater ecosystems, and support biodiversity, ensuring cleaner, healthier waterways for the future.
