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Upper Coln Recovery Group (UCRG)

Severe concerns by the Coln Valley landowners, land managers and residents for the visibly deteriorating River Coln, its water quality and associated ecology led to the creation of the UCRG. They recently appointed part-time consultant Harvey Sherwood, a Chedworth resident and experienced environmentalist/land manager to co-ordinate tackling the issues and devise best strategy for restoring the iconic limestone River Coln to its previous healthier status.

The Upper Coln at Stowell Park
Andoversford STW storm outflow after spilling for 36 hours (29/04/2024)

Andoversford STW storm outflow after spilling for 36 hours (29/04/2024)

To date Harvey has interrogated and collated many of the available Coln monitoring and compliance datasets. Surface waters quality and riverine conditions along with treated sewage discharge determinants.


The situation has now become more critical. Recent years has seen a huge increase in Sewage Treatment Works (STWs) Storm Outfall spillages. Raw and partly treated sewage is being regularly discharged from inadequate treatment and storm storage tanks at

Andoversford and Fairford STWs. Infiltration is entering sewerage networks and overwhelming the inadequate infrastructure and associated treatment systems.
 

Fairford has this year become the un-enviable holder of the No1 position as most frequently sewage spilling site of all the 353 STWs within Thames catchment.

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The last six months has seen data from Fairford STW storm flow Event Duration Monitors (EDMs) log over 4,000 hours spilling raw and partly treated sewage into the River Coln.


Do the Maths! The polluting discharges are flowing into lower Coln reaches and Thames confluence an average of 22hrs every day !


Similarly, Andoversford STWs lack of adequate treatment and storm storage tank capacity is also resultant in spilling effluent at rapidly increasing frequency. This will be polluting the iconic Upper Coln reaches, damaging the historically high health status habitats.
 

The situation is worsened by over-abstraction from the Coln and its groundwaters along with hotter, drier weather spells. These issues diminish flow rates, reduce pollutant dilution and raise river water temperature. So many factors negatively affecting associated ecology not to mention the less safe rural leisure activities and river sporting interests.


Anyone with observations and ideas for formulating a River Coln Restoration Action Plan please contact Harvey via email

harveysherwood@outlook.com

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