Outfall safari
One of the significant threats to water quality in urban rivers is misconnected pipes. These releases pollute rivers through the surface water drainage system, compromising the biodiversity and amenity value of our waterways.
Now that you’ve completed the Outfall Safari training, you’re ready to start surveying. Here is a guide to key things to remember when assessing outfalls:
- Weather and coordinating survey dates
- Health and safety working near water
- The assessment method and reporting pollution
- Contact details
Reporting Pollution
Any harmful pollution observed:
Report to the Environment Agency via the hotline number: 0800 80 70 60
You can also report CWS incident to the UU via their hotline number: 0345 672 3723
Upload your data
Collect your information on your local outfall on epicollect, please use this guidance on this page to fill in the information required to monitor your local outfalls.
Ranking of the aesthetics of the outfall
Please use this as guidance when selecting a category that most closely matches what you see at the outfall you are assessing (there might not be a perfect fit).
Outfall Flows
Signs of Pollution
Signs of pollution: Sewage fungus. Seen as grey, often tufty growth on the river bed
Signs of Pollution: filled Trash screen. Sewage-related debris, e.g. sanitary products (“rag”)
Outfall pollution: misconnections Foam or scum on the surface of the river Plume of discoloured water
Outfall Pollution: Oil spills/ dumping fat down the drain
..
Example Scoring for Outfall Safari:
Original score = 10
- Rag caught in the cover
Amended score = 0
- The outfall is sealed and not actively discharging
- Rag is most likely a result of a past high flow event
Original score = 14
- Description included large impact (no photos to accompany this)
Amended score = 6
- Typical case of misconnections
- Moderate flow and not a large impact at the base of the outfall
Original score = 20
- Large coverage of sewage fungus extending down the watercourse
Amended score = 0
- This is most likely to be a land drain, too small
- Pollution originates upstream of the pipe
Original score = 14
- Large coverage of sewage fungus
Amended score = 8
- Localised impact on the watercourse
- Trickle flow