Our rivers and freshwater habitats are at a crisis point, and we need urgent action. Only 14% of rivers are in good ecological health, and none meet required chemical standards. PFAS persist in waterways, harming wildlife and people, yet most go undetected. The Autumn WaterBlitz will help gather crucial data across the UK, highlight pollution hotspots, and drive meaningful action.

There is a lack of freshwater data and Earthwatch believes in the power of data for change. The Great UK WaterBlitz is a campaign calling on everyone to go out and test the quality of their local freshwater, including rivers, streams and lakes. The Autumn Blitz will focus on collecting citizen-generated data around pollutants such as PFAS, helping to build a national picture of their sources and scale, giving regulators and policymakers the evidence they need to take action.