Wye, Oh Wye?

Chicken droppings contain more phosphates than any other animal manure. When these phosphates are washed into rivers, they cause eutrophication (algal growth). This starves fish and river plants of oxygen, producing dead zones. The Severn and Wye river valleys, are already home to many large Intensive Poultry Units (IPUs). More than 51 million chickens are currently industrially farmed on their river banks. Campaigners are currently trying to halt the building of yet another IPU in Shropshire. This would house nearly an additional 250,000 chickens. It makes no sense, to have such a high concentration of potential organic pollution adjacent to two important rivers, much utilised by anglers and water enthusiasts (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/19/uk-intensive-farming-hotspots-79-times-more-chickens-than-people-data-shows-river-pollution-wye-severn). Agricultural pollution is a relatively little discussed danger to the UK's river systems. It certainly receives much less publicity than Water Company release of untreated sewage. IPUs generally get easy approval, because their construction is linked to jobs. This shouldn't, however, be the only consideration. There's a need to look after and start to repair our already ravaged natural environment. The last thing this area needs is another IPU!