FOUW have been extensively quoted in a major new report about the state of our rivers. We gave detailed evidence to the Environmental Audit Committee's Water Quality Inquiry and the group of MPs drew heavily on our contributions in their chapter on agricultural pollution.

The report describes our rivers as a ‘chemical cocktail’ of sewage, agricultural waste, plastic & road run-off. We stressed that there is more livestock manure in the Wye catchment than the land can absorb. RePhoKUs also gave crucial evidence showing that there is 3000 tonnes of excess phosphorous being generated by livestock manure.

Significantly, the MPs recommended that planning authorities should now "establish a presumption against granting planning permission for new intensive poultry or other intensive livestock units in catchments where the proposed development would exceed the catchment’s nutrient budget” unless demonstrably effective mitigation measures are in place.