Together with our Communities Protecting the Source of The Hampshire Avon
We are delighted to have launched our latest engagement initiative, made possible through Wessex Water’s Partners Programme and funding from Wiltshire Council. The 5-year ‘Our Healthy Headwaters’ project is an exciting and innovative community engagement initiative to help residents, schools, community groups, and businesses understand the different issues which affect river health, and how we can all play an important role in protecting these delicate chalk stream ecosystems.
Why Headwaters Matter
There are only around 200 chalk streams in the world, and 85% are here in England. Fed by underground aquifers, these rivers run clear and cold all year round, making them one of the most biodiverse freshwater habitats in the world. The headwaters are the starting points of rivers, and these smaller, often unseen streams are rich in biodiversity. They recharge the underground aquifers, help regulate the temperature of the river system and filter pollutants and sediment before the water flows into the larger areas of the river. Headwaters often make up the majority of a river’s length (around 70%) and are considered to be the foundation stone for a healthy river system.
But many headwaters are under threat. Household water use, chemicals, and pollution from septic systems can damage these fragile streams, affecting the health of the whole river system. Our Healthy Headwaters is here to help communities on the headwaters of The Hampshire Avon understand the part we all play—and how small changes at home, school or work can lead to big improvements for wildlife and water quality.
The Headwaters of The Hampshire Avon
The Hampshire Avon begins as two separate bodies of water in the Vale of Pewsey with the two branches merging at Upavon, and all the headwaters converging around Salisbury. The Headwaters of The Hampshire Avon as seen on the map below consist of many smaller rivers and streams, some of which are winterbournes, and these tributaries are vital to the health of the river system. The Hampshire Avon is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The biodiversity of the whole Hampshire Avon catchment is one of the largest in the country, with over 180 species of aquatic plants and a diverse range of fish and invertebrates.
The Our Healthy Headwaters Project
Over the coming years, we will be delivering engaging campaigns centred around four key themes:
1. Septic Smart – In collaboration with Wiltshire Council (Revamp Your Tank), this is an awareness-raising campaign about how to use and maintain septic tanks in ways that minimise pollution to rivers and groundwater.
2. Save Every Drop – Deepening people’s understanding that the water we use has been taken from the river and how we can change our water use habits at home, school and work.
3. Pet Medications - The impact of topical pet medications (particularly dog flea spot-on treatments) on aquatic life and the alternatives available.
4. What’s Going Down Your Plughole? Raising awareness of the risk to river health in the chemicals we use in and around our homes - through domestic cleaning, personal care, in the garden and through flushing medications.
Get in touch if you’d like us to attend a community event, give a talk to a group, deliver a free workshop to schools or uniformed groups or book our touring display for a visit to a community or amenity space in your area. We are also looking for volunteers to help us with citizen science to assess the health of the headwaters and to support our work at community events and/or educational sessions.
