Ching Monitoring Case Study – Pollution Hotspots on the River Ching

Published
Monitoring locations on the Ching

Citizen scientists from the Ching Action Group have identified several locations on the Ching which are suffering from pollution. Working with Thames21, City of London Corporation, Epping Forest, the Environment Agency and the London Borough of Waltham Forest, the Ching Action Group has been monitoring ten locations along the Ching, checking the levels of ammonia and phosphates in the water.

The River Ching Water Quality Monitoring Report July- Dec 2024 shows the results of weekly testing over a six-month period. The headline findings are:

  • Ammonia levels are generally “very good” or “good”.
  • Occasional “poor” spikes in ammonia have been reported to Thames Water.
  • Phosphate levels are “bad” downstream Whitehall Road (location 5)
  • Rainfall appears to dilute phosphate levels slightly but they still remain “bad”
Pollution hotspot at Whitehall Road (location 5)

Hanna Checkers have been provided by Thames 21’s EMPOWER Rivers programme and the London Borough of Waltham Forest with results being recorded on the Water Rangers’ platform.

Members of the Ching Action Group with Jack Beard, Thames21 Evidence Manager, and Philippa Nicholls, Thames21 Evidence Officer, during a site visit

Volunteers are continuing to monitor on a weekly basis and hope to record improvements as a result of co-ordinated action from the Environment Agency, Thames Water and Thames 21 to identify and tackle the source of the pollution.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This post was written by the Ching Action Group. Read the full report here. For more information, please email chingactiongroup@gmail.com