Resources
An extensive list of digital tools, guides and information grouped by issue or action. Use the toolbar on the right to quickly jump to each section.
Explore by issue
Explore by action
Understanding the key facts around sewage pollution
State of the water environment indicator B3: supporting evidence. Gov UK – Research and analysis
Sewage pollution facts – Surfers Against Sewage
Event Duration Monitoring – Storm Overflows – Annual Returns – DEFRA
Environment Agency publishes storm overflow spill data for 2023 – Gov UK
Storm Overflow Maps
Each water company provides real-time updates on the status and activity of their storm overflows.
- Thames Water storm discharge map
- We recommend using sewagemap.co.uk as a clearer map of the Thames catchment.
- Storm Overflow Map – Anglian Water
- Storm Overflows Map – Northumbrian Water
- Storm Overflow Map – Severn Trent
- Storm Overflow Map – United Utilities
- Storm Overflow Map – Welsh Water/ Dŵr Cymru
- Coast and Rivers Watch Map – Wessex Water
- Storm Overflow Map – Yorkshire Water
Some catchments only have maps for bathing water sites:
- Beachbuoy – Southern Water
- WaterFit Live – South West Water
For coastal waters we recommend the Surfers Against Sewage’s Sewage Pollution alerts map, which can also be downloaded as an app.
Understanding the key facts around Agricultural Pollution
State of our River Report 2024 – River Trust
Stop Killing Our Rivers Report – Soil Association
Muck Map: UK Map of Slurry & Manure Pollution From Factory Farming
Agricultural Pollution Campaigns
Campaign on the Wye – River Action
Understanding key facts around Water Scarcity
Leakage in the water industry – OfWat
Future Flows: River flow changes by season – UK centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Steve Reed speech on special measures water bill – Gov UK
A%R – Review of Abstraction as a % of Recharge in Chalk Streams – Wild Trout Trust – This review evaluates the balance between the amount of water being abstracted from chalk stream systems and the natural process of replenishment of those water resources.
Guides
Protecting Wild Waters – Surfers Against Sewage
Citizen Science Testing for Campaign Groups – Ilkley Clean Rivers Group
Freshwater Watch – Earthwatch
Databases
National Database – FreshWater Watch
Datatabase – Epicollect
Angling Trusts database – Epicollect
Friends of the Upper Wye – Epicollect
Visualising data
Visualisation tool – Tableau Public
WyeVis – Tableau Public
Health and Safety
Risk Assessment – Canal & Rivers Trust
Work with landowners – Blue Trails
Countryside code – Gov UK
Template letter to Earthwatch – Earthwatch
Bathing Water Quality – DEFRA
Equipment
Observational data survey – West Country Rivers Trust
Alert One (E.coli analyser) – Fluidion
Alert One analyser how to guide – River Action
Phosphate checker – Hanna Instruments
Video: Using the Hanna phosphate checker – Friends of the Wye
Video: Using your nitrate test strips – Friends of the River Wye
Freshwater Explorer Testkit – Water Rangers
Testkit Store – Water Rangers
Setting up a community group – Dover District Council
Charity Commission guidance – Gov UK
Trustee Roles – NCVO
Why you need a Mission Statement for your community – Hive Brite
How to write a mission statement – Charity Digital
Writing a Governing Document – Resources Centre
How to form a committee – Isle of Wight Council
Template for writing a community consultation – Parks Community
Banking for charities and organisations – NCVO
Policies
Safeguarding for charities – Gov UK
Health and safety for community groups – Resource Centre
Data protection for community groups – Resource Centre
Free Training
Volunteer management training – NCVO
Diversity and Inclusion in the workplace – Open University
Free Online Equality and Diversity Training Course with Certificate – HM Government
Guide for running and planning a campaign – Resources Centre
Campaigning Tool – Angling Trust
Example Campaign Group Website – Friends of the River Wye
Video: River Action is taking the EA to court – River Action
Communications to Promote Interest – Community Toolbox
Organising a letter writing campaign – Resource Centre
QR Code creator – Bitly
Community Events:
Organising a community event – Earthwatch
Hosting your first community event – Friends of the Earth
Community event planning checklist – Resource Centre
Engaging politicians:
What your MP can do for you – UK Parliament
Contact an MP or member of the lords – UK Parliament
Write a letter to your MP – River Action
Example Letter to Local Councillor – River Action
How to write a letter to a politician – Share 4 Rare
Engaging your wastewater provider:
Find out your water and wastewater provider – Water UK
Example Letter to Watercompany – River Action
Protests & Marches:
Protest law: know your rights – Friends of the Earth
UK protest rights – National Legal Service
Protests and marches: letting the police know – Gov UK
How to organise a more accessible protest – I.Liberty
Petitions
How petitions work – UK Government and Parliament
Organising a petition – Resource Centre
Tips on writing a great petition – 38 degrees
Example Petition: Stop the Abstraction Plant at Teddington Weir Petition – Save Teddington Thames
Example Petition: Rescue Our Rivers Petition – River Action
A beginners guide to social media – Friends of the Earth
What makes a good news story – Charity Comms
Template press release – Friends of the Earth
How to Send a Press Release by Email to Journalists with Examples – Prowly
Photography Tips:
Taking pictures with your smartphone – Focus
Photo Composition Tips – Adobe
Tips and tricks for photographing nature – Adobe
Finding media contacts:
British media contacts, information and analysis – Media.info
BBC News Regions – BBC
Community Radio Stations in the UK – Wikipedia
UK Local Newspaper Contacts – Open Rights Group
Guide on funding – Angling Trust
Step-by-step guides on how to fund your community group – NCVO
Guide to fundraising strategies – Easy Fundraising
Planning and promoting your fundraising – Friends of the Earth
A-Z of fundraising activity ideas – NSPCC
Example awareness/fundraising event – Friends of the Dart River celebration
Example Challenge Event Fundraiser – Macmillan River Walk
Writing a community grant application – Resource centre
Template application letter – River Action
Tips for community grant applications – Groundwork UK
Funding Directories:
Apply for governmental funding for community projects in England & Wales – Gov UK
Funding Support in Northern Ireland – Supporting Communities
Charity Excellence Foundation’s funding finder
Funders:
National Lottery ‘Awards for All’: in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Fundraising Platforms:
Relevant legislation:
The Water Resources Act 1991 – Gov Legislation
The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 – Gov Legislation
The Water Framework Directive – Gov Legislation
2018 Farming Rules for Water – NFU
Freedom of Information Requests:
Guide to making a Freedom of Information request – House of Commons Library
Latest Government Freedom of Information releases – Gov UK
Reporting an environmental incident:
Report an environmental incident in England – Environment Agency’s 24hr hotline
Report an environmental incident in Wales – Natural Resources Wales
Report an environmental incident in Scotland – Scottish Environmental Protection Agency
Planning resources:
Campaigners guide to planning applications – Friends of the Earth
How to object to a planning application – Woodland Trust
England Countryside Charity: CPRE
Wales Countryside Charity: CPRW
Scotland Countryside Charity: APRS
Environmental legal advice:
