IMPORTANT

I look like getting involved in a project to try to clean up some of the sewage outlets managed by United Utilities on our local rivers. The specific pollutants involved are the condoms and sanitary products that, having been flushed down the toilet, often end up in our rivers and streams. It is possible to filter such objects out of the sewage stream before it hits the rivers, but, alas, many outlets do not presently do so. It is highly unpleasant to catch such items, a possible bio-hazard, and I am sure most of you have already winced as you unhook them. I claim the record with 6 sanitary towels in 6 casts from the Mersey ( from a secret swim ;-0 ).

This project will I hope, involve both the Mersey and its catchment (Goyt Tame etc) and the Irwell and its tributaries.

So, what I would like you to do is to help me. At this time of year such items can be seen in the bankside grass after floods, and also in the riverside trees.
So:
Specifically for the Mersey and its tributaries, Goyt Tame, Etherow. ( Others are dealing with the Irwell. )
I need digital photographs of such items, together with the name of the river and a precise location where the photos have been taken If you know details of the nearest sewage outlet upstream of the location please include it. Could you email such data to me please. Click on my ID in this post and you should see an email link. If you can't manage to send the photos via that link, then PM me and I will give you my e-mail.

The Utilities Companies work in 5 year periods, and the next choice of clean up sites is soon to be formulated. It would be nice to be able to get our local ones included.
It is hoped to get the press involved, for, if the general public get to know what is happening very near to their homes, we probably have a better chance of action.
Very new project, and that is about as much as I know so far. I hope to be able to get a list of unfiltered outlets for the Mersey and its tributaries. If so, I shall publish it.

I'll probably be able to furnish you with images on a more or less daily basis John...

The outflow below the weir at Heaton Mersey is probably one of the Rivers worst offending places.

There's also a new 'snag' in the River just above the Motorway bridge that will act as a kind of trap for these biohazards.

There's no doubt going to be some odd looks from passers by watching me take pictures of used condoms and sanitary towels.

Mabe we could enter one for the turner prize.
Time to did out the D20 with the 10/20 lens

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Thermal Imaging
Building Heat Loss, Electrical, Flat Roof Leaks

Originally Posted by drynetter

I'll probably be able to furnish you with images on a more or less daily basis John... There's no doubt going to be some odd looks from passers by watching me take pictures of used condoms and sanitary towels.

If you go into Boots, you could take pictures of new ones and get similar looks.

No need to go too mad with a deluge of pictures, Mark. I just need enough to garner a general impression of the scale of the problem for the area.

I'll check out the new snag ( another tree? ) tomorrow when I take my Sunday walk having dropped wifey at the church.


Glenn: good idea on the Turner prize. My son and I got third place in the 2005 Mock Turner Prize with our "Movement in Blue" . The lad did the hard work, and I just took the piccy: BBC News | In pictures | Mock Turner Prize 2005

Only just seen this thread. No pics but I was on pear mill below the weir today and one of the bankside snags had three San/towels and two of the lovely wrappers that they come in hanging from it. It was my first time on that stretch so don't know where the sluice gate is. Thought I was back on the Trent.

I am surprised that this is such a problem as you say, as I thought that the water companies' systems stopped this from happening I thought this was a thing of the past and surely fines would be handed out for this sort of thing! I cannot recall seeing this down this neck of the woods, so must be lucky. Good luck with the project.

Cheers, Nick

Where's your neck of the woods nick

Originally Posted by Pheonixphythian

Where's your neck of the woods nick

I live in Southampton, and fish the Itchen, Hants Avon and Dorset Stour.

Cheers, Nick

Creme de le creme you lucky so and so hahaha tight lines nick.

Originally Posted by Pheonixphythian

Creme de le creme you lucky so and so hahaha tight lines nick.

It is - sometimes! Had a wander down on the Stour today, (not fishing, trying to clear the flu ) a lot of colour in the water, but nothing coming out. The Avon has been difficult too lately. Having said that, when you do hook into something, it's usually pretty decent. Nice Roach and Chub coming out of the Itchen though.

Cheers, Nick