Our aims
Wild About The Erme River (WATER) is a catchment-focused environmental charity working to restore the Erme River, its tributaries and habitat to their naturally healthy state.
Our aim is to safeguard people and wildlife from the harmful effects of pollution and to protect and improve the water quality and biodiversity of the Erme’s entire catchment area, its estuary and beaches.
Why the Erme needs our help
Like most rivers in England, the Erme has a combination of water quality, habitat and biodiversity issues. Pollution has reached a level where, in it’s first season after being designated as ‘Bathing Water’, the water quality at Coastguards Beach, at the mouth of the estuary, was classified as ‘Poor’ by the environment Agency in November 2024.
This not only has a potential impact on the health of people using the river recreationally but also impacts on the aquatic and terrestrial wildlife in and along the river. Indicator species such as migratory Salmon and Sea Trout are declining in numbers throughout the South West as riverbed spawning grounds, and access to them, diminish.
Our strategy
- Carefully planned positive actions
- Ensure water quality is monitored
- Encourage and motivate farmers
- Hold responsible organisations to account
Our strategy is to take planned positive and co-ordinated actions to protect the river from the harmful effects of pollution from a variety of sources, ensure water quality is properly monitored by the Environment Agency and motivate farmers and landowners to put measures in place to reduce further impacts and restore the river’s water quality, habitat and biodiversity.
We lobby and hold to account South West Water, to ensure they meet their stated commitments to improving treatment processes and reducing sewage spills from Waste Water Treatment Works on the Erme and its tributaries.
Who we work with
WATER works in partnership with multiple organisations including the Environment Agency, South Devon National Landscape, Westcountry Rivers Trust, the Rivers Restoration Centre, Surfers Against Sewage, Devon Wildlife Trust, Dartmoor National Park, Catchment Sensitive Farming, Farming in Protected Landscapes, River groups like Yealm Estuary to Moor, Friends of the Dart plus local environmental groups, our local MPs, County, District, Town and Parish Councils.
Latest News
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Secrets of the riverbed. The team get Riverfly training.
October 30, 2025Simon Rundle is an Emeritus Professor at Plymouth University specialising in marine biology and ecology. He generously agreed to help the WATER team with a series of field workshops using the Riverfly sampling and identification system. -
Treasure hunt and storytelling at Ivybridge Library’s Book Quest
October 30, 2025WATER was invited by Ivybridge Library to participate in their summer Book Quest event to encourage book reading in primary-school-age children. -
Run for the Rivers – a WATER fundraiser like no other – March 2026
October 30, 2025One man’s challenge in March 2026 The man is WATER’s Deputy Chair and Farming Lead, John Mildmay-White. John is on a mission to raise awareness of pollution in our rivers and to raise funds to support WATER’s work in restoring water quality and habitat across the Erme’s catchment. His 400 mile Ultramarathon will start at… -
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New EA system for reporting river pollution and environmental problems is live
October 30, 2025Following a pilot with Westcountry Rivers Trust CSIers earlier this year, the EA have advised that the new reporting service is live and available 24/7 with no access code needed. Anyone can report water pollution via Report an environmental problem – GOV.UK. They have also published a blog and have set up a Community Engagement HQ page which has more information about the online… -
After Coastguards’ POOR rating, who’s testing for what on the Erme?
October 30, 2025Following last November’s ‘Poor’ classification of bathing water quality at Coastguards Beach, WATER has been in discussions with both the Environment Agency and South West Water (at a senior level) to ensure the legal obligation to investigate, identify and resolve the pollution issues are being pursued with vigour.
Keep up to date
Keep up to date with all the latest news from WATER by joining our mailing list.
How you can help
There are many ways you can help us protect and restore water quality and habitat in the beautiful river Erme. To find out how, just click SUPPORT US