The River Ryton running through Worksop has been identified as one of Nottinghamshire's most polluted waterways, with sewage discharges and agricultural runoff pushing phosphate levels well above healthy limits.

Sewage Makes Up Significant Flow

According to the Environment Agency, a considerable proportion of the River Ryton's total flow is supplied by processed water from sewage treatment works. The river has been designated a priority site for water quality improvement.

The entire Ryton catchment has been classified as a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone, meaning it is at elevated risk from nitrate pollution originating from both agricultural sources and urban drainage.

Monitoring Questions Unanswered

The Environment Agency deployed water quality monitoring equipment in the River Ryton in late 2022, but there has been no public update on what the data has revealed. The lack of transparency has frustrated local environmental campaigners who want to know the full extent of the pollution.

Phosphate levels in the river are influenced by discharges from sewage treatment works and road drainage, with additional inputs from farming activity in the surrounding catchment area.

What Needs to Happen

Environmental groups have called on Severn Trent Water, which operates the sewage treatment works discharging into the Ryton, to invest in phosphate stripping technology at its facilities. Similar upgrades have been mandated at treatment works in other parts of the country following successful campaigns.

The River Ryton is not alone in facing these challenges. Across England, only 16 per cent of rivers meet good ecological status, with sewage pollution identified as a major contributing factor nationwide.

A River Worth Saving

The Ryton runs through the heart of Worksop and is an important local amenity. It supports wildlife including kingfishers, otters, and brown trout in its cleaner stretches upstream. Improving water quality would benefit both biodiversity and the town's appeal as a place to live and visit.

Residents who spot pollution incidents on the River Ryton can report them to the Environment Agency's 24-hour hotline on 0800 80 70 60.