The health of the River Ure has once again been brought into sharp focus following the release of two new reports from local campaign group Stop Ure Pollution (SUP). Together, the findings raise serious concerns about water quality throughout the river, highlighting the potential risks for swimmers, paddleboarders, anglers, dog walkers and anyone coming into contact with the water.
The first report marks the completion of a year-long programme of weekly water quality monitoring at Aysgarth Falls, revealing consistently high levels of bacterial pollution. A second report, published days later, compares water samples from the River Ure with those taken from the River Wye and the River Thames, identifying elevated levels of harmful bacteria and prompting renewed calls for stronger action to tackle pollution across the catchment.
Below, you can read both press releases in full, outlining the latest monitoring results, the concerns raised by Stop Ure Pollution and the actions the organisation believes are needed to help restore the River Ure for wildlife, local communities and future generations.
Press Release by SUP - 11 July
Stop Ure Pollution (SUP) has completed a full year of weekly water quality monitoring at Aysgarth Falls on the River Ure, revealing persistent and concerning levels of bacterial pollution at one of Yorkshire’s most popular inland bathing locations.
Between June 2025 and June 2026, volunteers carried out weekly testing using the Bactiquick bacterial endotoxin testing system, producing what is believed to be one of the most comprehensive independent datasets collected on the River Ure. The results indicate that almost nine out of every ten weekly samples (88.2%) fell into the “High Risk” category, with only 2.9% of samples indicating low risk.
Stop Ure Pollution is now urging swimmers, paddleboarders, kayakers, canoeists, anglers, dog walkers and anyone entering the river to exercise caution.
Endotoxins are recognised indicators of bacterial contamination and can trigger powerful inflammatory responses in humans. Exposure through contaminated water or inhalation of water spray has been associated with skin irritation, eye irritation, respiratory symptoms, fever-like illness and gastrointestinal problems, while higher levels of exposure may lead to more serious reactions.
The group says it is regularly contacted by members of the public who report becoming unwell after using the River Ure for recreational activities. They have erected signs at popular sites to warn river users of the health risk.
Stop Ure Pollution advises anyone using the river to:
• Avoid swallowing river water.
• Wash hands thoroughly after leaving the water and before eating.
• Shower as soon as possible after swimming or paddling.
• Cover any open cuts or abrasions before entering the water.
• Prevent dogs from drinking river water where pollution is suspected.
• Take extra care following periods of rainfall or when the river appears particularly turbid.
The organisation says that although further scientific investigation is continuing, one of the strongest patterns emerging from the year’s monitoring is the relationship between high turbidity (cloudy water caused by suspended material) and elevated bacterial endotoxin readings.
Early evidence suggests that the most likely causes are a combination of diffuse agricultural pollution from organic manures, slurry and farmyard manure, together with contamination arising from untreated sewage discharges from waste treatment works.
During the 2025/26 winter spreading season SUP volunteers recorded and reported to the Environment Agency what appeared to be illegal slurry spreading on 192 acres of farmland. It is illegal to spread slurry on waterlogged, frozen ground, within 10 metres of a watercourse, or without agronomic justification. The organisation says the Environment Agency has indicated it is preparing for further monitoring and enforcement activity during the coming winter.
The group is also concerned about sewage infrastructure throughout the catchment. According to publicly available spill data, Yorkshire Water’s 18 sewage treatment works within the River Ure catchment recorded 1,797 sewage overflow events during 2025, lasting a combined total of 4,215 hours.
Richard Loukota, Chairman of Stop Ure Pollution, said:
“After testing the River Ure weekly for the past year at two locations, the extent of the pollution has become abundantly clear. These are not isolated incidents or one-off pollution events—they point towards a river under continual pressure from multiple sources. We believe the long-term solution is equally clear. Illegal slurry spreading must be eliminated through a combination of common sense backed up by stronger monitoring and enforcement. Yorkshire Water must continue investing in its sewage treatment infrastructure to reduce spills. Farmers should be supported in fencing livestock away from riverbanks and establishing wide natural buffer strips that filter pollutants before they reach the river. Only by tackling agricultural runoff and sewage pollution together will we begin to restore the River Ure to the healthy river that local communities, wildlife and visitors deserve.”
Stop Ure Pollution will continue its weekly monitoring programme throughout 2026, with further data and analysis to be published as additional results become available.
Stop Ure Pollution would like to thank its committee, volunteers and members for their support as well as The Community Fund of the National Lottery and Surfers Against Sewage for funding the research.
Press Release by SUP - 20 July
Dangerously high levels of the bacterium which causes Legionnaire’s disease were found at Hawes when a comparison study for Stop Ure Pollution (SUP) was carried out on the Rivers Ure, Wye and Thames recently.
Another bacterium found at Hawes was described as a serious pathogen by the UK based biotechnology company, Molendotech, which carried out the comparison arranged by SUP Chairman Richard Loukota. The company analysed water samples from two sites on the River Thames, one on the River Wye and one on the River Ure using environmental DNA (eDNA) testing. Only those from the Ure were described by the company as of the highest clinical concern.
The pollution in the Ure was highlighted last week when SUP received a report from a visitor that his dog, Elsie, became seriously ill after drinking river water.
Elsie’s owners informed SUP: “On the weekend 10th-13th July 2026 our German shepherd dog was playing in the water at Wensley (bridge) dipping to collect and chase stones, obviously digested water and was ill all weekend during our holiday and then rushed home because she eventually needed a vet’s visit to try and stop the continuous diarrhoea! The river seems to have serious issues.” Thankfully, Elsie has recovered.
Richard Loukota, Chairman of Stop Ure Pollution, said: “The [test] results should be a wake-up call. The River Ure has performed worse than the River Wye, which is widely regarded as one of Britain’s most environmentally damaged rivers, and worse than the Thames despite its far larger population.
It is time for every organisation with direct or indirect responsibility for the river; the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, the Environment Agency, Yorkshire Water, farmers, agricultural contractors, landowners and Local Authorities to acknowledge the scale of the problem and work together to stop pollutants entering the river.”
And SUP’s vice chairman Toby Milbank commented: “The Environment Agency’s “advice-led” approach has run its course and has been largely ineffective in protecting England’s rivers. The Farming Rules for Water must be properly enforced, illegal slurry spreading of organic manures is a criminal offence but the number of prosecutions in the River Wye catchment, Thames and the River Ure Catchment combined, is currently zero. In addition, 1,797 sewage overflow events should never be regarded as acceptable. Only by tackling agricultural runoff, improving sewage treatment infrastructure and restoring natural river buffer zones will we begin to return the River Ure to good ecological health.”
The River Wye has become the national symbol of river decline after years of ecological damage caused primarily by agricultural runoff and sewage pollution. Yet the River Ure sample contained E. coli levels of 3,700 CFU/100mL—almost twice those recorded in the River Wye and more than five times the level found at Henley on the River Thames, despite the Thames serving a vastly larger population.
The River Ure sample also contained elevated levels of Legionella pneumophila and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, together with extremely high enterococci counts, all recognised indicators of significant faecal contamination and poor water quality. The findings reinforce Stop Ure Pollution’s weekly monitoring at Aysgarth Falls and Ulshaw Bridge.
SUP believes the evidence points towards a combination of diffuse agricultural pollution, particularly slurry and manure entering watercourses, together with untreated sewage released from wastewater treatment works and storm overflows. During the winter, volunteers recorded and reported 192 acres of alleged illegal slurry spreading to the Environment Agency, while Yorkshire Water’s 18 sewage treatment works in the River Ure catchment recorded 1,797 sewage overflow events lasting a combined 4,215 hours during 2025, combined, this is a total of over 175 days of untreated sewage entering the River Ure.
