Costing the Earth

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Factual: Science & Nature: Nature & Environment

Fresh ideas from the sharpest minds working toward a cleaner, greener planet

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Costing the Earth: The Right to Swim

The Right to Swim

BBC Radio 4 - Costing the Earth, The Right to Swim

The storms have flushed raw sewage into our rivers, but are they ever fit to swim in?

February's storms have flushed raw sewage into our rivers, but are they ever fit to swim in? Charlotte Smith asks how to clean our waterways.

On a hot summer's day the River Wharfe in Ilkley in West Yorkshire is a tempting place to swim.  In 2020 it was designated as the first inland waterway to be safe for bathing.  Just over a year later the water was found to be polluted by animal and human faeces and locals and tourists were advised to stay out of the river.

The River Wharfe certainly isn't unique, Britain's rivers are taking the brunt of rising populations, antiquated sewage treatment and intensive agriculture.  Too much waste- human, animal and chemical- is entering our rivers, exposing swimmers and wildlife to infection.  Extreme weather as experienced in February is only making matters worse.

Charlotte Smith and Caz Graham search for solutions to Britain's polluted rivers.

Producer: Hermeet Chadha

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