The River Wear plastics project

Plastics Project By Rachel Richards

This work, funded through the Living Uplands project, set out to answer a number of questions. Firstly, are there microplastics in the River Wear, and, if so, at what sort of levels, and how do these levels vary, moving downstream? After an initial desk study to look at work already done on plastics in rivers, it was decided to look for microplastics in both the water channel and in accumulated river sediment. In addition, the project also wanted to look at plastic pollution on the banksides, and worked with local schools to deliver this part of the project.

Main photo: Wearhead Primary School children carrying out a litter survey, September 2021

The microplastic sampling was carried out during August and September 2021 by Teesside University and Durham Wildlife Trust staff. The sampling was done using a very fine meshed plankton net which was held in the middle of the water channel – a similar method to other microplastics studies. At each of our five sample locations (Wearhead, Frosterley, Bishop Auckland, Durham and Chester-le-Street), both water and sediment samples were taken, collecting upstream and downstream of water treatment plant outflows at each location and taking great care to avoid contamination of samples.

School children from Chester-le-Street’s Park View Academy Eco club, assisting with a litter survey

School children at Wearhead Primary, Wolsingham School, and Parkview Academy, all assisted with litter surveys. Rather than a simple litter pick, we followed a similar methodology to the Marine Conservation Society’s Litter Survey, in recording and categorising all litter collected, depending on its origin and components. The schools then wrote up the survey results, with the primary school children producing graphs and charts, and the secondary school eco clubs presenting results in the format of a scientific paper. At Chester-le-Street and Bishop Auckland, wipes were a large component of the litter found caught in bankside vegetation. Despite the packaging on some wipes suggesting they can be flushed, that’s not the case. Please always bin your wipes!

Teesside University is analysing the litter survey material with the help of some of its students, looking at the types of macroplastics found, their possible sources, and if there is any correlation with the microplastics found.

Wet wipes are the biggest causes of blockages and sewer flooding, and we really need your help. You can make a massive difference by making one easy change: Bin the Wipe. Results so far

Though all the lab work has not yet been completed, the findings so far are interesting and, as is often the case, not entirely what we were expecting.

Microplastics were found in the water samples collected at all sample sites, from Wearhead upstream (WHU) to Chester-le-Street downstream (CD). A gradual increase in the amounts found can be seen from Wearhead to Durham, but surprisingly, results are lower at Chesterle-Street. Results do not show a consistent increase in plastics in water samples in relation to water treatment works locations.

The data above, on microplastics in river sediment, does not show an increase in plastics as we move down the river. There does appear to be higher levels downstream of water treatment plants in comparison with upstream sites, though this may not be statistically significant. These are preliminary results, provided to give a taste of what this work has revealed so far. A full scientific paper will be produced once analysis has been completed. As is often the case, this preliminary study is raising more questions, and the hope is that this work will pave the way for a more in-depth investigation into the presence and possible impacts of plastics in the River Wear.

The ‘Source to Sea’ free education pack for Key Stages 1 and 2 provides a topic plan and learning materials in three modules: ‘Our Amazing Oceans’, ‘The River Wear’ and ‘Plastics in the Environment’. Packs are also available for the topics ‘Black Grouse’ and ‘Curlew’. Find out more: durhamwt.com/living-uplands