Friends of the Dart celebrate milestone in river protection efforts

A group that advocates for the health of the River Dart is celebrating what they say is a “major milestone” in their fight for cleaner and safer water. 

The group, known as Friends of the Dart, also has some visions for the future, hoping to offer more protection to the river.

These include:

• Year-Round Protection: Eliminating seasonal restrictions to ensure safety and ecological health at all times.
• Inclusive Definitions: Expanding protections to all water users, including surfers, paddleboarders, and their pets.
• Enhanced Testing: Introducing multiple sampling points at each site and testing for a wider range of pollutants.
• Continued Protection for Struggling Sites: Maintaining oversight and support for sites that fail to meet minimum standards, rather than automatically de-designating them.
• River-Specific Policies: Addressing the unique challenges rivers face compared to coastal waters.

A recent report shared with The Moorlander by the group, Friends of the Dart, and published by the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP), speaks of the urgent need for reform of England’s outdated Bathing Water Regulations. 

The group has said this report echoes their long-standing advocacy for inclusive and effective protections for both water users and river ecosystems.

The group clarified that, over the past two years, they have worked to collect and analyse water quality data, identify pollution hotspots, and advocate for systemic improvements. Their testing results showed:

• Pollutants: Pharmaceuticals, PFAS, pesticides, and heavy metals have been identified at multiple sites.
• Antimicrobial Resistance: Preliminary data suggests the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes, with Steamer Quay showing the highest levels.
• Human and Agricultural Contamination: Microbial source tracking confirmed that human sewage and livestock are major contributors to pollution in the Dart.

Due to their intervention, DEFRA has made designations that support the group's efforts, including ranking areas by water quality. 

These are as follows:

• Steamer Quay, Totnes: Poor
• Stoke Gabriel: Sufficient
• Dittisham: Good
• Warfleet, Dartmouth: Excellent

The group further explained to The Moorlander that while these designations provide an important framework for assessing water quality, they do not guarantee safety for water users. 

The group says they will continue to advocate for improvements to both testing standards and public communication.

Looking ahead to the spring, the group has announced that investigations will begin due to failing bathing water standards. 

Alongside this, infrastructure upgrades at 14 sites are planned, including the addition of a UV filter in a failing water treatment plant.

The group has stated that these advancements mark a significant victory for the community and demonstrate the power of grassroots action. 

Friends of the Dart say they remain committed to ensuring the Dart is safe and welcoming for all, advocating for legislative changes and holding polluters accountable. 

They continued to explain that the ongoing support of volunteers, donors, and local residents has been essential to achieving these milestones.