28/02/2026
Please take the time to watch the docudrama "Dirty Business" on Channel 4, which provides a stark picture of just how badly our rivers and coastlines are being treated.
The 3-part series portrays a decade-long investigation into sewage contaminated water by Water Companies in Oxfordshire carried out by two neighbours, a former Police detective, and a Professor of Computational Biology, who noticed fish in their local river were dying.
They received help from whistle blowers from both Thames Water (a sewage plant engineer) and the Environment Agency (a sewage investigator), who were disgruntled with the corporate management approach to the pollution that was taking place.
Tragically, the series includes a family who lost an eight-year daughter due to E-Coli poisoning.
https://www.channel4.com/programmes/dirty-business?
fbclid=IwY2xjawQQPMdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEer4ksHrBK7hzoymofa6vU4F6dESuhsQnaTlqjxa_cOSq5TWn-PTaUBZdTi_I_aem_dilQGVLPP0TJiZa4dQ-nxQ
What has been going on is clearly a national disgrace.
Whilst the focus is on the River Windrush near Oxford, the same is happening right across the country, so is a national problem.
As a UK resident, you will be concerned about our filthy rivers, beaches and waterways, with all of the effects of pollution causing terrible damage to ecosystems.
As an angler, you will be affected due to the consequences on the rivers fish populations, and all online fisheries that will also be at risk, as fish remain largely unseen and not obvious to the general public.
Please get involved and provide both anglers and surfers with a voice to fight for cleaner waters and hold Government, The Environment Agency and other regulators, plus of course the UK's water companies and other polluters to account.
I am certain you will be shocked and this needs our support as anglers, as well as the rest of the British public, as we are all at risk.
Please sign the petitions in order to build pressure on the Government (irrespective of party), to invoke change:
Anglers Against Pollution:
https://anglingtrust.net/get-involved/anglers-against-pollution/?fbclid=IwY2xjawQQRCJleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE0N0pSWDhlMEFkZjFkdFNyc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHtEWYKLwMWtq6-
Surfers Against Pollution:
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/end-the-profit-driven-sewage-pollution-scandal-1
The UK is apparently the only country in the world to privatise water - what a mistake that was and we clearly need to reverse that decision - Sooner rather than later.
======================
Clean water can’t wait.
Sewage, farming pollution and & toxic chemicals are choking our waters.
That’s why we support the campaign. The Government has to address this national embarrassment:
• Stop the pollution
• Fix the water system
• Restore nature
This is a once-in-a-generation chance to achieve for people and for nature.
Read the full report and support the campaign: https://www.wcl.org.uk/clean-water-now.asp
Honorary Secretary, Farnham Angling Society
