THE IMPACT of Severn Trent’s operations on Coventry and Warwickshire’s rivers has reduced by a third over the past 12 months.
Last year, the firm announced its ‘get river positive’ scheme, which aimed to protect and improve the health of the region’s rivers.
Since then, the water company has completed the installation of 100 per cent of monitor coverage.
Severn Trent has also pledged that its operations will not be the reason for any stretch of river in its region to be classified as unhealthy by 2030.
Data from the environment agency released last Friday shows the firm is currently responsible for 13 per cent of the region’s unhealthy rivers.
Over the past 12 months, Get River Positive has seen Severn Trent start its £78million bathing rivers programme.
The end goal is to move two stretches of river in the Severn Trent region towards bathing quality by 2025.
In addition, the firm’s education team has spoken to over 12,500 children across 62 schools in the region on sewer misuse.
A new independent advisory panel has been formed to oversee the progress against the pledges earlier this year.
Chair Dr Julia Casperd, said: “I’m passionate about protecting our natural environment and the vital ecosystem services that they provide.
“I am keen to use my experience and skills to support Severn Trent in its commitment to make the region’s rivers the healthiest they can be, whilst also enhancing their biodiversity and mitigating climate change.
“The panel’s priorities are to bring insights from the many areas that depend on rivers, as well as providing the right amount of scrutiny and accountability to Severn Trent’s five Get River Positive pledges.”
Visit getriverpositive.co.uk for more information.
