Environmental pollution caused by Algal blooming in the River Wye causes largest ever environmental claim to reach the high courts
The problem in the River Wye is caused by the spreading of chicken manure, used as cheap fertiliser, on the farmer’s fields and sewage spills. The fertiliser then washed off the soil into waterways, combined with sewage, and lead to high levels of phosphorus, nitrogen and bacteria entering the river. In the warm weather this has caused the water to turn green, this is called “algal blooming”.
This causes a problem for the locals not only due to the unpleasant smell but also due to the decrease of Salmon in the Wye, now less than a few thousand migrating each year. The algae makes the salmon harder to catch. This has caused people to move away from the river, changing the local environment.
A lawsuit was filed against Avara Foods (a chicken producer) and Welsh Water accusing them of negligence, causing private and public nuisance and trespass where the river winds through private land. This is considered the largest ever environmental claim to reach the high courts, with more than 4500 local people signed up.
