Main image: Dana Assinder

Imagine a river it's safe to swim and play in

The Lower Char Community Project was formed in early 2022 with the aim of learning about our River Char so we can clean it of pollution. We are building on work done by locals, experts and the people at the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre - and most especially on the research and writing of Philip Strange.

We're already working with Char Valley Parish Council, which has a similar project higher up the River Char. We're also working with Wessex Water who showed us round the Sewage Treatment Works in April 2022.

We're looking to:
  • find out where pollution comes from (run-off from the land, leaking septic tanks, sewage spills, etc)
  • measure pollution and water quality in the river regularly
  • find out what we can do to reduce sewage spills (working with Wessex Water to get residents to separate sewage and rain water in their homes, planting reedbeds, etc.)
  • learn how we can help protect local homes from flooding as summer storms and other extreme weather events become more common

NEWS UPDATE

We're delighted to report that the Lower Char Community Project received ​a substantial grant in June 2022 from Wessex Water Foundation via Dorset Community Foundation.

We will be using this funding to do three specific things:
  1. monitor the lower River Char and identify sources of pollution
  2. engage the community in rainwater separation schemes
  3. investigate and implement nature-based treatment solutions.
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Image from www.nurdlenerd.co.uk

Nurdles and Biobeads

A quick look along Charmouth Beach will reveal a horrifying amount of plastic.
This ranges from bags and bottles to shards of degraded plastic as well as nurdles (the raw material of manufactured plastics) and biobeads (used in the sewage treatment plant above Lyme Regis - but not at the Charmouth Sewage Works).

Find out more on our plastics page.
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Image from Wikimedia

sewage spills

There's been a lot in the news about sewage spills recently, including those in and near Charmouth. We've had a tour of Charmouth Sewage Treatment Works and lots of information from Wessex Water.
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We've prepared a summary page and a detailed report on how these spills happen locally, how often the happen and what we can do together to help address the problem.
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Sign up below if you'd like updates.
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Image from Wikimedia

Wildlife

A lot of the work going on further up the river is designed to record and support the wildlife that lives on and around the river.
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We are doing our bit by starting a year-round water quality monitoring programme, gathering sightings of birds and other wildlife (some, like mink, not so native or desirable) and celebrating the river's own wild life.

Sign up below if you'd like to help.
Sign up below and we'll send you our occasional newsletter with updates and ways you can help. (We won't send marketing and promotional materials but we have to ask your permission by law!)

OUR GOAL

Help us clean up the river, so we can get rid of this sign at the beach by the bridge
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Further Reading
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Resources
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Is my river fit to play in? Check the online map at the Rivers Trust
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Watch BBC Panorama'a 'The River Pollution Scandal'
(In 2020 the water companies pumped raw sewage into English rivers for over 3 million hours)

​Read The Guardian's article - Britain oozes sewage
Other River Groups
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