When did the idea of taking a drink from your river become so tangled up with fears about agricultural runoff and sewage discharges? Is your river clean and safe? Is the fear of pollution stopping you from enjoying your river? Is a chemistry set and some curiosity all you need to explore new places?

I walked upstream in search of a clean cup of water to drink, uncovering the pollution issues that plague most of Britain’s rivers. Despite these challenges, he also finds beauty and fresh water existing alongside justified anger over the rivers’ condition. And he remembers that the essence of a good microadventure is simply an idea that sparks enough enthusiasm to get you out the door and seeing the world differently.

For more information about the health of rivers in the UK and Ireland, and to learn more about what is being done, and what must be done, to restore them, visit www.theriverstrust.org

PLEASE NOTE: ‘There are hazards associated with drinking directly from rivers, and other things in the water that might cause harm, including pathogens such as ecoli and norovirus, aren’t always easy or possible to test for.’

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