Friends of the Dart has found evidence of illegal dry spills in 14 different areas of the River Dart dating from 2021 to 2023, the worst of which occurred in Rattery where a total of 15 hours of sewage was found to have been released into the river.

The River Dart has just become the first river in the UK to achieve Designated Bathing Water status for a record number of individual sites. Four sites have been awarded Designated Bathing Water status by DEFRA in time for the start of the UK’s 2024 Bathing Water Season on the 15th May 2024. To all of the amazing individuals, businesses and organisations in our communities and further afield who made this possible, thank you! This is a hugely positive step in the progress towards resolving sewage and wastewater pollution in our rivers.

The Naturesave Trust, a renowned UK-focused environmental conservation organisation, has proudly approved a grant of £10,000 to support the Source to Sea testing programme initiated by Friends of the Dart.