WILD Oxfordshire is heading a campaign to collect 1,000 water samples from the Thames River Basin to help protect water quality.

They are looking for volunteers to take part, with schools and groups invited to help out at an event on Monday, September 14.

The charity, based at Little Wittenham near Didcot, has 1,000 testing kits available for volunteers.

Hilary Phillips, programme manager at Wild Oxfordshire, said: “This is the first time we have become involved in something like this, and the first time anyone has tried a survey on this scale.

“People should pay attention to the effect that pollutants can have on the river – if the water quality is low then we will be paying more money to the water companies for them to clear it up.

“This is just another way of making people aware of what is going on in the river and what they can do to benefit the environment.”

Each kit has a plastic test tube and beaker to capture the water, and a colouring agent which will show the levels of pollution in the sample.

Samples will be used to test for phosphates and nitrates which can enter the river and harm ecosystems, wildlife and reduce drinking water quality.

Mrs Phillips added: “The data will allow us to prioritise what areas are most in need of protection so we can direct volunteers and fundraising.”

The Thames is nearly 354km in length and is fed by a large network of small watercourses and streams that join to form the main tributaries of the river.

Wild Oxfordshire says water from the river provides around two-thirds of London’s drinking water.

The watercourses flow over 16,000 sq km of land – Thames River Basin.

* For more information contact hilary@wildoxfordshire.org.uk