The campaign, which is now in its seventh year, aims to connect communities with their local rivers and this year it focuses on the natural recovery of rivers and wetlands, with lots of free events to sign-up for including, walks, talks and river clean-ups.

So, whilst our rivers are in focus, let’s think about what we can do to protect those on our patch. We live in a water-scarce area and our rivers, which feed local wildlife, are low. In Hertfordshire, our rare chalk rivers account for approximately 10% of those found worldwide. These mineral-rich, clean-flow rivers provide really important habitats for a plethora of wildlife. But did you know that the springs that feed water into our rivers depend on the same aquifer to supply water for our domestic and business use? Therefore, the more water we use, the less there is for our precious rivers and the wildlife they support.

Here's some recent images of our local rivers suffering from water stress. Credit: Derrick Guy

Taking steps to save water is something we can all do to conserve this valuable resource, protect our rivers and the wildlife they support. And with the cost of living crisis hitting the daily headlines, saving water can help with the household energy bills for those of us with a meter. In Hertfordshire we have the highest water usage statistics per head in the country, which paints a concerning picture on an environmental level. There are some easy ways we clean up in terms of water efficiency.

Water-saving tips

Reusing and recycling water is good practice. Water usage peaks in the summer months so capturing rain water in a water butt and using it to water the garden is a simple place to start. Or how about saving yourself the job of refilling the paddling pool by keeping it covered? When the water can no longer be used for human fun-lovers, consider using it to bathe pets or to water your garden plants or lawn.

Shorten your shower. Thames Water report that the average shower uses 10 litres of water a minute so think about the 60 litres of water you could save by reducing a 10-minute shower to a more than doable four minutes.

Switch off running taps. When you’re cleaning your teeth, just switch on the tap as and when you need – the water doesn’t need to be constantly running. When you’re washing up, fill a bowl and then turn the taps off.

Fill your appliances. Whether you are stacking the dishwasher or washing your smalls, fill your appliance – not only will this help to reduce the amount of water you use, but also you will be saving on energy costs too.

Find out more

Further information and tips from the Trust can be found on our ‘How to conserve water’ page.

The Environment Agency publish a monthly report on the water situation in England, collecting information the Environment Agency, the Met Office and water companies. Amongst other information, the report gives an insight into the health of our rivers, documenting the amount of water flowing in them. Latest reports are available here.

Water companies also provide lots of tips and ideas of how you can save water. Check out Thames Water’s ‘Every drop counts’ campaign.