Water Monitoring & Updates

Carrant Brook

Carrant Brook forms much of the northern boundary of the parish. The brook flows westwards across rural farmland and has long been an important natural feature of the local landscape. As well as supporting wildlife habitats, it plays a role in managing surface water and contributing to the wider river system in the Severn Vale.

Tirle Brook

Running east to west through the centre of the parish is Tirle Brook, one of the main watercourses in the area. The brook passes through several local hamlets before continuing westward, eventually linking into the wider river network around Tewkesbury. Like the Carrant, it contributes to the natural drainage patterns that shape the surrounding countryside.

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Community Water Monitoring

Looking After Our Waterways

Today, these brooks remain important environmental assets, supporting biodiversity and helping manage water across the parish. Protecting the health of our waterways helps preserve both the natural environment and the rich history connected to them.

Ashchurch Rural Parish Council has supported local environmental monitoring by funding water testing kits for volunteers involved with the Safe Avon initiative. These kits allow trained volunteers to carry out regular checks on water quality within the parish.

Monitoring helps to:

• Identify changes in water quality
• Highlight potential pollution incidents
• Provide useful data to environmental organisations and regulators
• Improve understanding of the health of our local waterways

Community monitoring is an important way residents can contribute to protecting the natural environment and ensuring that our brooks remain healthy for future generations.

Find out more about how to get involved here.

Water Monitoring Updates from SafeAvon

Please find below the latest updates, reports, correspondence and documents relating to water monitoring, water quality testing, and reported sewage spill incidents.

These updates help keep residents informed about ongoing environmental concerns, monitoring activity, and engagement with relevant authorities and partner organisations.

New Sewage Discharge Data Published

August 2026

For the first quarter of this year SafeAvon have analysed the data published for in the Tewkesbury on the Severn Trent website. The EDM report can be viewed here.

The information identified is summarised below. The figures are alarming and highlight the scale of the issue facing our local waterways.

Following the review of local storm overflow data, SafeAvon raised questions with the Environment Agency (EA) regarding infrastructure improvements, future plans and whether current discharges are within permitted limits.

The EA confirmed that water companies are required to significantly reduce storm overflow discharges under the Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan (SODRP), with improvements being phased in over the coming years. The long-term aim is for storm overflows to operate only during unusually heavy rainfall and not cause ecological harm.

For further information and to get involved residents can visit SafeAvon or contact Geoff Sallis: geoffsallis@btinternet.com

July 2026

SafeAvon has shared newly released analysis by Peter Hammond highlighting sewage discharges that are reported to have occurred outside the Environment Agency’s definition of heavy rainfall. The findings raise important questions about the operation of storm overflows and their impact on our rivers. Peters findings are reported here.

To learn more and view the interactive map of sewage outfalls here.

Safe Avon -Tewkesbury TC Sewage infrastructure (April 26)

Safe Avon – Annual update April 2026

Safe Avon – River Avon CSO spills 2025