About

I test 5 locations, 4 within Crofton Woods. 1 along East Kyd Brook and 3 along Kyd Brook.

East Kyd Brook has several S.W.Os (surface water overflows) entering the brook and the test site is downstream from these that is publicly accessible.

Along Kyd Brook, I testing site has a C.S.O (combined sewer overflow), which means that untreated sewage is being discharged into Kyd Brook usually during heavy rain and to add insult, this is also not far from the source of Kyd Brook. There are 2 further testing sites, downstream from the C.S.O, either side of a S.W.O (surface water overflow) that has a missed connection, meaning laundry detergent is also entering Kyd Brook along with all other road runoff, there are 2 other S.W.Os upstream from this S.W.O.

The final testing site is within Hawkwood Estate, Chislehurst. By this location East Kyd Brook and Kyd Brook have joined and there are many more S.W.Os entering the brook. This testing test is also a riverfly monitoring site.

The reason I became involved in water and riverfly monitoring is back in January 2023 I discovered that raw untreated sewage was being discharged into Kyd Brook and had been permitted to do this by the Environment Agency since the 1970s. At this location it can be described more as a stream and is very near the source of Kyd Brook. What damage is this doing to the environment and what dangers does it pose to people and animals? No one was even aware that this was happening. Obviously I was very angry and wanted to find out if there anything that could be done, fortunately I found Thames21 and RMI where I, along with others provide data that can be assessed and used to spread awareness and put pressure to change what is happening to our waterways. Hoping this will eventually mean that all waterways are clean.

Training

Thames 21 - water testing

RMI - riverfly monitoring