River Itchen 'Toxic Water' signs installed by XR Winchester

Article from the Hampshire Chronicle.

Extinction Rebellion Winchester and Justice for Water set up information boards along the River Itchen on July 8 to raise awareness of raw sewage releases by Southern Water.

The displays included satirical 'Toxic Water' signs and various statistics on sewage spills.

Mike Nell from Extinction Rebellion Winchester said: "It was a great action and we had a lot of interest from people walking by during the evening.

"Chalk Streams are an important, diverse ecosystem, and they are rare globally, but here in southern Hampshire we are lucky to have several fine examples in the Itchen, Meon and Test."

He stressed the impact that raw sewage has on the environment.

He said: "It is vital that these remaining areas of biodiversity are protected in a country that is the most nature depleted in Europe."

A spokesman for Southern Water said: "We understand concerns about the use of storm overflows and are committed to reducing them through our £1.5 billion Clean Rivers and Seas plan.

"However, storm overflows aren’t the only factor that impacts water quality. Rivers and seas are also affected by agricultural and road runoff as well as illegal connections.

"While the Environment Agency tests water quality in designated bathing waters, the Itchen is not a bathing water so there isn’t always a clear picture of its overall health. We’re working to improve this through partnering with Hampshire riverkeepers to install monitors along both the Itchen and the Test that give comprehensive, hour-by-hour feedback on water quality

The monitors are part of the company's wider £160m investment package to protect the chalk streams.