Keep It Clean – The River Kent Needs You!

The Clean River Kent Campaign (CRKC) launches a new campaign to inspire households and businesses to protect the River Kent. By making small changes to our everyday habits, we can significantly reduce the amount of chemicals reaching and harming the special river that we all love.

CRKC, a South Lakes campaign group creating awareness and solutions for a cleaner, healthier River Kent, wants to encourage individuals and businesses to find out how they can help protect the River Kent – its wildlife, plants and water.

The Keep it Clean – The River Kent Needs You! campaign aims to reduce phosphate pollution from household and garden products from getting into the river. To encourage responsible use of household pet flea and tick treatments to prevent harm to river life from toxic chemicals and to encourage septic tank owners to keep them well maintained.

Isobel Stoddart, CRKC Chair notes, “Our beautiful River Kent is under pressure from pollution of all kinds - from laundry liquids containing phosphates, to microplastics, septic tank discharges and poisonous pet treatments. Alongside campaigning for less sewage discharges from wastewater treatment works along the river CRKC is calling on individuals and businesses to all play our part to help keep our river clean. The River Kent needs you!”

Further information about the causes of river pollution and guidance on what simple steps individuals can take to reduce their impact: www.cleanriverkentcampaign.co.uk/keep-it-clean-campaign. There is a series of 3 leaflets aimed at householders, pet owners and septic tank owners, available for download:

• Householders
• Pet Owners
• Septic Tank Owners

Sally Soady, local septic tank owner says ‘We never realised how many household cleaning products, laundry and dishwasher tablets contain phosphate, which can get into the river and effect the water quality. I now only use phosphate-free household products.’

Nicola Fearnley, a local pet owner, states, ‘I was shocked to learn that pet treatments contain high concentrations of neonicotinoids, which are toxic to animals and likely humans. I strongly encourage other pet owners to have a read of the information about how to reduce the impact your pet is having on the environment.’

For more information go to www.cleanriverkentcampaign.co.uk/keep-it-clean-campaign.