Latest monitoring has revealed that nearly 9 out of 10 Manx rivers were of a good or better quality this summer. Some of the best rivers have improved further this year, with the highest number since 2006 being classed as ‘very good’, indicating excellent water quality. This means the majority of Manx rivers are relatively pristine, with little or no pollution and are capable of supporting diverse and sensitive animal life, including many insects, shrimps and snails, as well as the brown trout and salmon that depend on them for food. These latest results are based on measures of organic chemical water quality, which can be used to detect pollution such as sewage, slurry and farm waste.
 
Despite such encouraging results, problems remain and some good rivers have slightly decreased in water quality and there has been a slight increase in ‘very poor’ and ‘bad’ rivers, where water quality is detrimental to the majority of insect life and unsuitable for fish. Although some of this deterioration is undoubtedly due to extremes of weather, some is also due to pollution, both accidental and deliberate.
 
Rivers are good reflectors of the state of the natural environment as a whole. The results here show while most habitats are excellent, there remains room for improvement. The Environmental Protection Unit attempts to regulate discharges to rivers and resolve pollution issues when they arise and the Freshwater Biologist monitors river health on a regular basis. However, unless the public and industry behave in a responsible manner to minimise their own impacts on the Island’s rivers, it will remain a constant battle to maintain water quality at the current high level.  
 
Phil Gawne, Minister for environment, Food and Agriculture said:  “It is encouraging to find that the vast majority of Manx rivers remain in excellent condition. We must all do what we can to see this enviable position is maintained.”
 
A copy of the report is available on the Government Laboratory website: http://www.gov.im/categories/the-environment-and-greener-living/isle-of-man-government-laboratory/river-water-quality/