‘Citizen scientists’ to check UK rivers for sewage and pollution

An angler fishes on the River Derwent near Bakewell. The government has announced it will take measures to force water bosses to clean up waterways in England and Wales. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Rivers will be checked for sewage and other pollution by the general public this month in an attempt to assess the health of British waterways.

Cuts to the UK regulators and a change in the law to allow water company self-monitoring of pollution in England mean there is little independent monitoring of the state of rivers in the UK.