Household River Care ManualFriends of the Dart
⬇ Download PDF

References & sources

All URLs accessed August 2026. Non-UK sources are labelled in their entries and used for illustrative statistics only, never for UK law.

  1. 1. Defra / GOV.UK — Record number of new bathing sites get the go-ahead. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/record-number-of-new-bathing-sites-get-the-go-ahead (accessed August 2026).
  2. 2. GOV.UK — List of current bathing waters (designated waters in England). https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bathing-waters-list-of-designated-waters-in-england/list-of-current-bathing-waters (accessed August 2026).
  3. 3. Kingsbridge Today — Devon's first non-coastal bathing spots rated for the first time (November 2024). https://www.kingsbridge-today.co.uk/news/devons-first-non-coastal-bathing-spots-rated-for-first-time-743867 (accessed August 2026).
  4. 4. Friends of the Dart — Bathing Water classifications (December 2025). https://www.friendsofthedart.org/latestnews/bathing-water-classifications (accessed August 2026).
  5. 5. Environment Agency blog — 2025 Bathing Waters Classifications. https://environmentagency.blog.gov.uk/2025/11/25/2025-bathing-waters-classifications/ (accessed August 2026).
  6. 6. South West Water — Rivers and bathing waters (WaterFit). https://www.southwestwater.co.uk/environment/rivers-and-bathing-waters (accessed August 2026).
  7. 7. South West Water — Steamer Quay, WaterFit Live bathing water page. https://www.southwestwater.co.uk/steamer-quay (accessed August 2026).
  8. 8. Friends of the Dart — Ten worst sites for sewage spills into the River Dart. https://www.friendsofthedart.org/latestnews/ten-worst-sites-for-sewage-spills-into-the-river-dart (accessed August 2026).
  9. 9. The Rivers Trust — 2024 Annual Sewage Spill Data: what does it tell us? https://theriverstrust.org/about-us/news/2024-sewage-spill-cso-data (accessed August 2026).
  10. 10. Friends of the Dart — Home. https://www.friendsofthedart.org/ (accessed August 2026).
  11. 11. Friends of the Dart — River Dart Water Quality Testing. https://www.friendsofthedart.org/water-testing (accessed August 2026).
  12. 12. Friends of the Dart — Data Review March to September 2025. https://www.friendsofthedart.org/data-review-march-to-september-2025 (accessed August 2026).
  13. 13. ConnectRight (National Misconnections Strategy Group) — Home. https://www.connectright.org.uk/ (accessed August 2026).
  14. 14. Consumer Council for Water — Blog: Are you well connected? https://www.ccw.org.uk/news/blog-are-you-well-connected/ (accessed August 2026).
  15. 15. Catchment Based Approach (CaBA) — Engaging with communities: Yellow Fish. https://catchmentbasedapproach.org/learn/engaging-with-communities-yellow-fish/ (accessed August 2026).
  16. 16. Litter Free Coast and Sea (Dorset & East Devon) — Only Rain Down the Drain. https://www.litterfreecoastandsea.co.uk/only-rain-down-the-drain/ (accessed August 2026).
  17. 17. Ribble Rivers Trust — Water friendly homes. https://ribbletrust.org.uk/get-outside/water-friendly-homes/ (accessed August 2026).
  18. 18. Westcountry Rivers Trust — Six ways to look after your local river. https://wrt.org.uk/six-ways-to-look-after-your-local-river/ (accessed August 2026).
  19. 19. Thames Water — Bin it, don't block it (festive campaign, December 2024). https://www.thameswater.co.uk/news/2024/dec/xmas-bidbi (accessed August 2026).
  20. 20. Water UK — Public urged to bin "harmful" wet wipes as over a fifth admit flushing them. https://www.water.org.uk/news-views-publications/news/public-urged-bin-harmful-wet-wipes-over-fifth-admit-flushing-down (accessed August 2026).
  21. 21. Environment Agency blog — Your toilet is not a rubbish bin: think before you flush. https://environmentagency.blog.gov.uk/2017/12/12/your-toilet-is-not-a-rubbish-bin-think-before-you-flush (accessed August 2026).
  22. 22. Environment Agency — State of the environment: water quality (2018). https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/709493/State_of_the_environment_water_quality_report.pdf (accessed August 2026).
  23. 23. EUR-Lex — Regulation (EU) No 259/2012 amending Regulation (EC) No 648/2004 as regards the use of phosphates in detergents. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32012R0259 (accessed August 2026).
  24. 24. Environment Agency / GOV.UK — Exploring phosphorus concentrations and ecological improvements in English rivers: summary. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/exploring-phosphorus-concentrations-and-ecological-improvements-in-english-rivers/exploring-phosphorus-concentrations-and-ecological-improvements-in-english-rivers-summary (accessed August 2026).
  25. 25. Ceredigion Council / Natural Resources Wales — Septic tanks and treatment plants: how to protect our waterways. https://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/media/21oj0wwu/septic-tanks-and-treatment-plants-how-to-protect-our-waterways.pdf (accessed August 2026).
  26. 26. Don Catchment Rivers Trust — 7 steps to a river-friendly home. https://dcrt.org.uk/7-steps-to-a-river-friendly-home/ (accessed August 2026).
  27. 27. Water UK — Bin the Wipe. https://www.binthewipe.org/ (accessed August 2026).
  28. 28. City to Sea — Unflushables. https://www.citytosea.org.uk/campaign/unflushables (accessed August 2026).
  29. 29. Unblocktober — Home. https://www.unblocktober.org/ (accessed August 2026).
  30. 30. Cornwall Council — Recycling items: medicines. https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/rubbish-recycling-and-waste/recycling/recycling-items/medicines (accessed August 2026).
  31. 31. Community Pharmacy England — Disposal of unwanted medicines (NHS essential service). https://cpe.org.uk/national-pharmacy-services/essential-services/disposal-of-unwanted-medicines/ (accessed August 2026).
  32. 32. UKWIR — The Chemical Investigations Programme Phase 2, 2015–2020: initial findings. https://ukwir.org/the-chemicals-investigation-programme-phase-2,-2015-2020 (accessed August 2026).
  33. 33. University of York — Global study finds the extent of pharmaceutical pollution in the world's rivers (Wilkinson et al., PNAS, 2022). https://www.york.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/2022/research/global-study-pharmaceutical-pollution-rivers/ (accessed August 2026).
  34. 34. USGS — Pharmaceutical pollution of the world's rivers (abstract of Wilkinson et al., PNAS 2022). https://www.usgs.gov/publications/pharmaceutical-pollution-worlds-rivers (accessed August 2026).
  35. 35. Chartered Institute of Environmental Health — Rivers in national parks are polluted with pharmaceuticals (September 2024). https://www.cieh.org/ehn/environmental-protection/2024/september/rivers-in-national-parks-are-polluted-with-pharmaceuticals/ (accessed August 2026).
  36. 36. Clean Water South / University of Southampton — Drug return initiative to tackle emerging pollutants. https://hub.futuretowns.soton.ac.uk/activity/drug-return-initiative-to-tackle-emerging-pollutants (accessed August 2026).
  37. 37. GOV.UK — Find a local hazardous waste disposal service. https://www.gov.uk/hazardous-waste-disposal (accessed August 2026).
  38. 38. Waterwise — Save water: tips and facts. https://waterwise.org.uk/save-water/ (accessed August 2026).
  39. 39. Waterwise — The Very Last Drop: your role in saving the UK's water. https://waterwise.org.uk/the-very-last-drop-your-role-in-saving-the-uks-water/ (accessed August 2026).
  40. 40. Waterwise — Waterwise launches Leaky Loo Challenge. https://waterwise.org.uk/waterwise-launches-leaky-loo-challenge-with-fluidmaster-as-headline-sponsor/ (accessed August 2026).
  41. 41. Royal Horticultural Society — Water: collecting, storing and re-using. https://www.rhs.org.uk/garden-jobs/water-collecting-storing-and-using (accessed August 2026).
  42. 42. Environment Agency — Catchment Data Explorer: Dart (waterbody GB108046008350). https://environment.data.gov.uk/catchment-planning/WaterBody/GB108046008350 (accessed August 2026).
  43. 43. Planning Portal — Paving your front garden. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/paving-your-front-garden (accessed August 2026).
  44. 44. Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government — Permitted development rights for householders: technical guidance. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/permitted-development-rights-for-householders-technical-guidance (accessed August 2026).
  45. 45. Royal Horticultural Society — Permeable paving. https://www.rhs.org.uk/garden-design/permeable-paving (accessed August 2026).
  46. 46. Royal Horticultural Society — Rain gardens. https://www.rhs.org.uk/garden-features/rain-gardens (accessed August 2026).
  47. 47. Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water — How you can be part of RainScape. https://corporate.dwrcymru.com/en/community/environment/our-projects/rainscape/how-you-can-be-part-of-rainscape (accessed August 2026).
  48. 48. Environment Agency / GOV.UK — General binding rules: small sewage discharge to a surface water. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/general-binding-rules-small-sewage-discharge-to-a-surface-water (accessed August 2026).
  49. 49. Environment Agency / GOV.UK — General binding rules: small sewage discharge to the ground. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/general-binding-rules-small-sewage-discharge-to-the-ground (accessed August 2026).
  50. 50. Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust — Septic Smart (Watercress & Winterbournes). https://www.hiwwt.org.uk/watercress-and-winterbournes/septic-smart (accessed August 2026).
  51. 51. West Wales Rivers Trust — Septic Tank Scheme. https://westwalesriverstrust.org/septic-tank-scheme/ (accessed August 2026).
  52. 52. Wessex Rivers Trust — Revamp Your Tank. https://www.wessexrt.org.uk/RevampYourTank.html (accessed August 2026).
  53. 53. Our Rivers (partnership including Norfolk Rivers Trust) — free septic tank upgrades and replacements. https://www.ourrivers.co.uk/ (accessed August 2026).
  54. 54. North Devon Council — Septic tanks and cesspools. https://www.northdevon.gov.uk/environment/septic-tanks-and-cesspools (accessed August 2026).
  55. 55. Veterinary Medicines Directorate / GOV.UK — Pet owners urged to take care when using flea and tick treatments to help protect our waterways ("Plan. Apply. Protect."). https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pet-owners-urged-to-take-care-when-using-flea-and-tick-treatments-to-help-protect-our-waterways (accessed August 2026).
  56. 56. University of Sussex — press release on Perkins et al., "Potential role of veterinary flea products in widespread pesticide contamination of English rivers", Science of the Total Environment. https://www.sussex.ac.uk/broadcast/read/53897 (accessed August 2026).
  57. 57. GOV.UK — Call for evidence launches on pet flea and tick treatments in UK waterways (April 2026). https://www.gov.uk/government/news/call-for-evidence-launches-on-pet-flea-and-tick-treatments-in-uk-waterways (accessed August 2026).
  58. 58. Broads Authority — Flea treatments and their impact on water quality. https://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/looking-after/managing-land-and-water/water-quality/flea-treatments-and-their-impact-on-water-quality (accessed August 2026).
  59. 59. British Veterinary Association — Veterinary associations update advice on spot-on flea treatments for pets that swim in lakes and rivers. https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/news-article/veterinary-associations-update-advice-on-spot-on-flea-treatments-for-pets-that-swim-in-lakes-and-rivers/ (accessed August 2026).
  60. 60. Chichester District Council — Green Dog Walkers scheme. https://www.chichester.gov.uk/article/30331/Green-Dog-Walkers-scheme (accessed August 2026).
  61. 61. EPA Catchments Unit (Ireland; statistics used illustratively, not as UK law) — Dog fouling impacts on bathing water quality. https://www.catchments.ie/dog-fouling-impacts-on-bathing-water-quality/ (accessed August 2026).
  62. 62. Keep Britain Tidy — Dog fouling. https://www.keepbritaintidy.org/dog-fouling (accessed August 2026).
  63. 63. South Hams District Council — Dog fouling. https://www.southhams.gov.uk/environment-and-nuisance/dogs/dog-fouling (accessed August 2026).
  64. 64. legislation.gov.uk — Water Industry Act 1991, section 111 (restrictions on use of public sewers). https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1991/56/section/111 (accessed August 2026).
  65. 65. HM Government — The Building Regulations 2010, Approved Document H: drainage and waste disposal (2015 edition). https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/442889/BR_PDF_AD_H_2015.pdf (accessed August 2026).
  66. 66. Southern Water — Managing fat, oil and grease (FOG) for food businesses. https://www.southernwater.co.uk/help-and-support/managing-fat-oil-and-grease-fog-food-businesses/ (accessed August 2026).
  67. 67. South West Water — Bin It Don't Block It: over 2,000 food establishments supported to prevent sewer blockages. https://www.southwestwater.co.uk/about-us/latest-news/bin-it-dont-block-it-over-2000-food-establishments-supported_to_prevent_sewer_blockages (accessed August 2026).
  68. 68. Surfers Against Sewage — Bathing Water Designation Community Toolkit. https://www.sas.org.uk/resource/bathing-water-designation-community-toolkit/ (accessed August 2026).
  69. 69. Surfers Against Sewage — Safer Seas & Rivers Service. https://www.sas.org.uk/water-quality/sewage-pollution-alerts/safer-seas-rivers-service/ (accessed August 2026).
  70. 70. The Riverfly Partnership — Home. https://www.riverflies.org/ (accessed August 2026).
  71. 71. River Action UK — Test My River (River Rescue Kit). https://kit.riveractionuk.com/river-rescue-kit/test-my-river/ (accessed August 2026).
  72. 72. GOV.UK — Report an environmental problem (Environment Agency 24-hour incident hotline 0800 80 70 60). https://www.gov.uk/report-an-environmental-incident (accessed August 2026).
  73. 73. The Rivers Trust — How to report pollution incidents in a river. https://theriverstrust.org/key-issues/sewage-in-rivers/how-to-report-pollution-incidents-in-a-river (accessed August 2026).
  74. 74. South West Water — WaterFit Live. https://www.southwestwater.co.uk/environment/rivers-and-bathing-waters/waterfitlive (accessed August 2026).
  75. 75. Pantoja Munoz, L., Gonzalez Baez, A., McKinney, D. and Garelick, H. (Middlesex University) — Characterisation of "flushable" and "non-flushable" commercial wet wipes using microRaman, FTIR spectroscopy and fluorescence microscopy: to flush or not to flush. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2018. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-018-2400-9 (accessed August 2026).
  76. 76. Khan, A., Orr, B. and Joksimovic, D. (Ryerson University, for the Municipal Enforcement Sewer Use Group; Canadian study, non-UK) — Defining "Flushability" for Sewer Use, 2019. https://foecanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Final-Report-Flushables-April-1.pdf (accessed August 2026).
  77. 77. South West Water — Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci. https://www.southwestwater.co.uk/environment/rivers-and-bathing-waters/escherichia-coli-and-intestinal-enterococci (accessed August 2026).

Prefer it on paper?

Every source below is also listed, with the full text, in the printable PDF manual.

Download the PDF manual →