\n Glyn Marshall, 68, has spent the last four years testing water quality at the Severn in Worcester after growing frustrated with fishing surrounded by toilet paper and sanitary towels.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n A Severn Trent spokesperson said it is\u00a0making major strides in safeguarding the region’s rivers, delivering improvements at 1,800 sites so far.\n<\/p>\n
\n He has since been involved with The Angling Trust, leading a group of 57 testers along the river\u00a0who have collected over 10,000 samples in the last two years.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n “It is not any better than it was when I started four years ago,” he admitted.\n<\/p>\n
\n “If anything, it is probably getting worse.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n POLLUTION: Glyn Marshall fears the River Severn will continue to deterioriate (Image: Glyn Marshall)\n<\/p>\n
\n “All the things that happen in the river are being compromised and it is just a sorry state really.”\n<\/p>\n
\n Mr Marshall puts the issues down to a multitude of factors, including Severn Trent\u00a0Water Treatment Works discharging into the river, agricultural pollution, road run-off and prescription drugs ending up in the river.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n “The old boys that have regularly fished on this river for donkey\u2019s years, they will tell you that the river has really changed,” he said.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n “It really has dramatically changed\n<\/p>\n
\n “It is a worry. Worcester used to thrive on the river, salmon used to be prolific in the river. It is not the same river as it was even 10 years ago.”\n<\/p>\n
\n After putting in a request last year, Mr Marshall was assured by Severn Trent it was\u00a0putting in a method to strip further\u00a0phosphates out by May\u00a02026.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n “If you think nothing has been done with the phosphate for years, you are probably waiting another five to 10 years before we see any changes after that,” he said.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n “My grandchildren will not have the same River Severn as it was when I was a teenager.\n<\/p>\n
\n “The river won’t be the same unless something is massively done. It is the same across the country.\n<\/p>\n
\n “Our water courses are under so much pressure and it is going to take a long time.”\n<\/p>\n
\n READ MORE: River Severn ‘brown water’ mystery may be solved<\/a>\n<\/p>\n \n READ MORE: AI predicts what sewage could do to River Severn<\/a>\n<\/p>\n