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
-
Did you watch Dirty Business on Channel 4 this week?
March 2, 2026‘Dirty Business’ on Channel 4 this week put the national sewage scandal front and centre. -
Back to the future at Ramsland Farm
February 9, 2026Jacks and Alice have a philosophy of “resilience through diversity” and they are showing exactly how to make that diversity a reality at Ramsland Farm. -
WATER highlights to look out for in 2026
February 5, 2026Keeping our supporters, volunteers, strategic partners and local community groups updated on what’s happening at WATER is vital. Here are a few of the highlights this year. -
Increasing interest and positive actions from our farmers
February 5, 2026Since we launched our Farmers Network last year the level of interest in how farmers can make a positive contribution to the environmental health of their land and our river has been growing. -
Update on the CAP – The more we observe, the more we see
February 5, 2026Restoring a river is a complex and ambitious task. It starts with establishing a deep understanding of how the river system evolves across its many reaches – on both the main channel and its tributaries, and the factors that affect it. Our Catchment Action Plan (CAP) is the essential tool that will provide us with an… -
What would you give for a 600km run for our river?
February 5, 2026If you ask WATER’s Deputy Chair and Farming Lead, 40 year old John Mildmay-White, the answer seems to be, ten days. That’s how long it will take him to run from Coastguards Beach to Westminster Bridge in London, the equivalent of doing one and a half marathons every day. A typical west country spate river, the Erme…
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