STRU Est 2020
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News.. 
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STRU AND SAS TO HOLD HUSTINGS CLICK HERE STRU LAUNCH Clean Water Bill for Wales at the Senedd (welsh Parliament) Click Here 2026 is a key year for clean water in Wales, what can you do? Here NEW - STRU November 2025 DATA UPDATE Here Our Next Meeting: Monday 13th April 2026 at 7pm The Sessions House, Maryport Street, Usk, NP15 1AD |
Save The River Usk
The River Usk rises in the mountains of mid-Wales flowing 120 kilometers through stunning scenery with a vast wealth of flora and fauna to the strong tidal waters of the Severn estuary. It is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Area of Conservation. Nevertheless, in 2021 Natural Resources Wales found that the Usk had the highest incidence of phosphate pollution in all of the Welsh rivers. Fertiliser run-off from agriculture, human and animal waste and industrial effluent are all contributing to the rise of phosphate levels and dismal decline in the health of the river.
Save the River Usk is a UK-based community group dedicated to protecting and restoring the River Usk in Wales. The organisation works to improve water quality, conserve wildlife habitats, and promote sustainable land and river management. Through scientific research, community engagement, and advocacy, Save the River Usk aims to safeguard the river’s ecological health for wildlife and for future generations who depend on it.
Save the River Usk is a UK-based community group dedicated to protecting and restoring the River Usk in Wales. The organisation works to improve water quality, conserve wildlife habitats, and promote sustainable land and river management. Through scientific research, community engagement, and advocacy, Save the River Usk aims to safeguard the river’s ecological health for wildlife and for future generations who depend on it.
River Usk – The River That Was Lost Documentary
Save the River Usk has commissioned a powerful documentary, “River Usk – The River That Was Lost,” to shine a light on the shocking decline of one of Wales’ most beautiful and highly protected rivers.
Once renowned for its pristine waters, iconic wildlife, and global importance, the River Usk is now facing a silent crisis. Despite its protected status, pollution, mismanagement, and neglect are pushing this extraordinary river toward irreversible damage.
This film tells the story of what has been lost—and what can still be saved. Through expert voices, local experience, and striking visuals, it exposes the reality behind the river’s decline and calls for urgent action to protect its future.
👉 Click below to watch the documentary and stand with us to save the River Usk.
Save the River Usk has commissioned a powerful documentary, “River Usk – The River That Was Lost,” to shine a light on the shocking decline of one of Wales’ most beautiful and highly protected rivers.
Once renowned for its pristine waters, iconic wildlife, and global importance, the River Usk is now facing a silent crisis. Despite its protected status, pollution, mismanagement, and neglect are pushing this extraordinary river toward irreversible damage.
This film tells the story of what has been lost—and what can still be saved. Through expert voices, local experience, and striking visuals, it exposes the reality behind the river’s decline and calls for urgent action to protect its future.
👉 Click below to watch the documentary and stand with us to save the River Usk.
Breaking News...
On April 16th, Save the River Usk together with our friends at Surfers Against Sewage are holding a hustings in Abergavenny
Fed up with the disgraceful state of our waters? You’re not alone. But change is possible, and the Welsh Senedd elections on 7th May 2026 are our opportunity to bring that change. Together, we can show every political party that healthy rivers and clean coastlines are a priority for voters.
On April 16th, Save the River Usk together with our friends at Surfers Against Sewage are holding a hustings in Abergavenny focussed on clean water and reducing pollution of our waterways, rivers and seas. Please join us to hear from candidates about their plans for tackling pollution in our waterways!
When. Thursday 16 Apr 2026 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Where Abergavenny Community Centre, NP7 5BY
During the event we will ask for a short opening statement from each of the candidates and will then focus on questions that you have asked. The event is politically impartial – all parties and independent candidates have been invited and each will have a chance to speak.
👉 Sign up for the event, see which candidates are attending and post your questions in advance here: Save The River Usk Senedd Husting
Please forward this invite Here on to anyone you think will be interested in attending.
We look forward to seeing you there! Together we will bring that change.
Learn more about our proposed Water Bill here: Clean Water Bill - SAVE THE RIVER USK
Read Surfers Against Sewage Manifesto here: Senedd Manifesto: SAS
On April 16th, Save the River Usk together with our friends at Surfers Against Sewage are holding a hustings in Abergavenny focussed on clean water and reducing pollution of our waterways, rivers and seas. Please join us to hear from candidates about their plans for tackling pollution in our waterways!
When. Thursday 16 Apr 2026 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Where Abergavenny Community Centre, NP7 5BY
During the event we will ask for a short opening statement from each of the candidates and will then focus on questions that you have asked. The event is politically impartial – all parties and independent candidates have been invited and each will have a chance to speak.
👉 Sign up for the event, see which candidates are attending and post your questions in advance here: Save The River Usk Senedd Husting
Please forward this invite Here on to anyone you think will be interested in attending.
We look forward to seeing you there! Together we will bring that change.
Learn more about our proposed Water Bill here: Clean Water Bill - SAVE THE RIVER USK
Read Surfers Against Sewage Manifesto here: Senedd Manifesto: SAS
2026 is a key year for clean water in Wales. Jan 2026
Your interest, support, and involvement matter more than ever. With the Senedd election taking place on 7 May 2026, there is a real opportunity to encourage political parties and candidates to commit to meaningful change and stronger legislation for our rivers.
2026 is a key year for clean water in Wales.
Together we will bring change.
Chair Angela Jones & Committee
2026 is a key year for clean water in Wales.
Together we will bring change.
Chair Angela Jones & Committee
STRU Launch A Clean Water Bill for Wales at the Senedd- 2nd December 2025
Exciting News !!
On December 2nd, we at Save the River Usk launched The Clean Water Bill for Wales by calling on the Senedd to introduce strong legislation that protects our Welsh rivers and coastal waters.
Read the Bill Here
We are proud to have the support of a wide coalition of groups, including Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), the Wildlife Trusts, the Women’s Institute, Welsh Canoeing, the Salmon Association, numerous angling groups, many River groups and many more.
With the upcoming Senedd elections, this is a crucial moment. Change is both needed and possible—and by standing together, we will make that change happen.
If your group would like to support our Water bill for Wales .
Please let us know so we can add your name and Logo.
THANK YOU
Chair Angela Jones & Committee
On December 2nd, we at Save the River Usk launched The Clean Water Bill for Wales by calling on the Senedd to introduce strong legislation that protects our Welsh rivers and coastal waters.
Read the Bill Here
We are proud to have the support of a wide coalition of groups, including Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), the Wildlife Trusts, the Women’s Institute, Welsh Canoeing, the Salmon Association, numerous angling groups, many River groups and many more.
With the upcoming Senedd elections, this is a crucial moment. Change is both needed and possible—and by standing together, we will make that change happen.
If your group would like to support our Water bill for Wales .
Please let us know so we can add your name and Logo.
THANK YOU
Chair Angela Jones & Committee
STRU - launch a Petition to the Senedd calling for a Clean Water Bill for Wales
JUST GONE LIVE! SIGN NOW! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
Please sign the Petition - https://petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/246640
Download and share our Petition Poster here
Our rivers are crying out for help, and time is running out. For too long, polluters, regulators, and lawmakers have talked about protecting our waterways without taking meaningful action. The River Usk and many others across Wales are in crisis.
What the Clean Water Bill Will Do:
This Bill must mean action over words, nature over profit, and transparency over silence.
Add your name to the petition. Help us demand a future where Welsh rivers thrive — not just survive.
https://petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/246640
Please Sign & Share
Chair Angela Jones
Please sign the Petition - https://petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/246640
Download and share our Petition Poster here
Our rivers are crying out for help, and time is running out. For too long, polluters, regulators, and lawmakers have talked about protecting our waterways without taking meaningful action. The River Usk and many others across Wales are in crisis.
What the Clean Water Bill Will Do:
- Set legally binding targets for biodiversity and water quality
- Create a fit-for-purpose regulator to hold all polluters accountable
- Introduce new, meaningful Permits that:
- • Cover a wider range of pollutants
- • Carry real consequences for violations
- Mandate a review of water company practices in Wales
- Enforce the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025
- Require SAC rivers to be tested to Bathing Water Quality Standards
- Work with farmers to reduce nutrient runoff without harming food production
- Include citizen scientists and communities in shaping the Bill
This Bill must mean action over words, nature over profit, and transparency over silence.
Add your name to the petition. Help us demand a future where Welsh rivers thrive — not just survive.
https://petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/246640
Please Sign & Share
Chair Angela Jones
What a Fantastic Day !
Save The River Usk Festival - 14th September 2025
Usk River Festival
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Save The River Usk
14th September 2025
What a Day!
"Thank You for Supporting the 2nd River Usk Festival!"
We were absolutely blown away by the incredible support at this year’s River Usk Festival thank you to every single person who came along and helped make it such a special day!
From the choirs and drummers to the amazing community groups, volunteers, and passionate individuals ,your energy and presence showed just how powerful we are when we come together to protect our rivers, wildlife, and environment.
A massive THANK YOU to everyone who gave their time, talent, and voice,this festival is for the community and only possible because of the community.
Let’s keep the momentum going and continue to care for the beautiful River Usk and all it supports.
Save the River Usk
Chair Angela Jones & Committee
by
Save The River Usk
14th September 2025
What a Day!
"Thank You for Supporting the 2nd River Usk Festival!"
We were absolutely blown away by the incredible support at this year’s River Usk Festival thank you to every single person who came along and helped make it such a special day!
From the choirs and drummers to the amazing community groups, volunteers, and passionate individuals ,your energy and presence showed just how powerful we are when we come together to protect our rivers, wildlife, and environment.
A massive THANK YOU to everyone who gave their time, talent, and voice,this festival is for the community and only possible because of the community.
Let’s keep the momentum going and continue to care for the beautiful River Usk and all it supports.
Save the River Usk
Chair Angela Jones & Committee
High E. coli Levels on The River Usk.
For over a year, we have been working closely with the University of South Wales on microbial analyses of the effluent discharged in The River Usk from Dwr Cymru/Welsh Water sewage treatment works.
We've taken samples from upstream, downstream and at the discharge points for the Brecon, Llanfoist and Usk treatment plants and tested them for E. coli bacteria (a bug that commonly causes infections).
The results show that the River downstream from all three plants contains E. coli at levels that far exceed the maximum permitted for a safe bathing water designation (900 cfu). In one case, the bacterial count at the discharge point hit 173,666 cfu - that's nearly two hundred times the limit for safe bathing!
The River Usk is supposed to be highly protected; a designated Special Area of Conservation. Yet "treated" sewage from Welsh Water is turning parts of it into a public health hazard. STRU believes Natural Resources Wales needs to enforce standards that properly safeguard the river.
We also believe the public should be protected too, and information about the level of pollution entering the river from sewage treatment plants made public.
Special thanks go to Dr Cerith Jones and Talatu Usu at USW and Alistair Hill
We've taken samples from upstream, downstream and at the discharge points for the Brecon, Llanfoist and Usk treatment plants and tested them for E. coli bacteria (a bug that commonly causes infections).
The results show that the River downstream from all three plants contains E. coli at levels that far exceed the maximum permitted for a safe bathing water designation (900 cfu). In one case, the bacterial count at the discharge point hit 173,666 cfu - that's nearly two hundred times the limit for safe bathing!
The River Usk is supposed to be highly protected; a designated Special Area of Conservation. Yet "treated" sewage from Welsh Water is turning parts of it into a public health hazard. STRU believes Natural Resources Wales needs to enforce standards that properly safeguard the river.
We also believe the public should be protected too, and information about the level of pollution entering the river from sewage treatment plants made public.
Special thanks go to Dr Cerith Jones and Talatu Usu at USW and Alistair Hill
Save The River Usk Hold Multi Party Meeting with
MPs and MSs
Save The River Usk held a constructive meeting with a multi-party group of our local MPs and MSs
We shared STRU's extensive data and knowledge of the river, and we were joined by our ally Keri Davies (an organic farmer and head of the Beacons Water Group). After presenting our policy "asks" to them, we had an extremely constructive discussion.
The meeting ended with the politicians all signing up to a pledge to work together to clean up our beautiful Usk and we all left with a clearer understanding of the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Thanks are due to :
MS Jane Dodd Leader of Welsh Lib-Dems) , MP David Chadwick, MS Peter Fox, MS James Evans.
MP Catherine Fookes & MP John Griffiths were unable to attend but sent videos of support and a representative.
We'll be organising a repeat event next month for those MPs & MSs who weren't able to be there.
We shared STRU's extensive data and knowledge of the river, and we were joined by our ally Keri Davies (an organic farmer and head of the Beacons Water Group). After presenting our policy "asks" to them, we had an extremely constructive discussion.
The meeting ended with the politicians all signing up to a pledge to work together to clean up our beautiful Usk and we all left with a clearer understanding of the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Thanks are due to :
MS Jane Dodd Leader of Welsh Lib-Dems) , MP David Chadwick, MS Peter Fox, MS James Evans.
MP Catherine Fookes & MP John Griffiths were unable to attend but sent videos of support and a representative.
We'll be organising a repeat event next month for those MPs & MSs who weren't able to be there.
- MP Catherine Fookes attends STRU meeting on the 30th September 2024 and promises to be our voice in Westminster to restore our River Usk and Wye.
We will be looking forward to her progress and holding her to account.
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There is nothing as compelling
as a group of like-minded humans coming together to make change! |
Representing At Westminster
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On February 8th, Angela represented our concerns and campaign when she was invited to Parliament to speak. She had a formal meeting with the Welsh Affairs Commmittee to give oral evidence on the Water Quality in Wales. Gail Davies-Walsh
Chief Executive at Afonydd Cymru and Jon Khoo Chair at Surfers against Sewage were also on the panel. Highlights of her testimony are here. |
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The River that was Lost
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