AI sensors will likely be put in in UK rivers to supply ‘dwell air pollution checks’ for swimmers after Environment Agency report discovered 86 per cent have been beneath ‘good’

Swimmer worried about water pollution will be able to check real-time river health before taking a plunge once a new AI network of sensors is up and running.

Thousands of tiny sensors set to span the nation’s rivers and waterways by 2030 with AI translating the data into useful visitor insights like whether it is safe for children or to swim.

An Environment Agency ‘State of the Environment’ report previously found 86 per cent of river water bodies in England were below ‘good’ ecological status.

UK-based environmental tech firm Additive Catchments is behind the scheme and this week announced a 10-year deal with Vodafone Business to build the infrastructure to deliver real-time water quality monitoring.

Live river data will be used to create online public dashboards giving visitors, swimmers, paddleboarders and dog walkers an instant condition check on any stretch of UK water.

The near real-time monitoring can reveal what’s really driving sudden pollution changes – whether it’s storms, sewage overflows or farming runoff.

The latest data from the Environment Agency suggests that new sewage leak dirties Britain’s streams, lakes and coasts nearly every minute. 

Swimmers worried about water pollution will soon be able to check real-time river health

Additive Catchments’ approach uses in-river sensors that captures data every 15 minutes (pictured: a bridge over the River Wye in Hereford)

The statistics show there were more than 450,000 spills in 2024 – equating to a record 3.6million hours in total.

While water quality data is publicly available, it is often in formats people struggle to navigate. Addictive Catchments’ mission is to turn these raw numbers into something the public can actually use.

And, the start-up argues real-time monitoring will reveal what’s really driving sudden pollution changes – whether it’s storms, sewage overflows or farming runoff.

The network will be powered by VodafoneThree’s IoT connectivity, allowing data from remote rivers to be transmitted reliably back to a central platform for analysis.

The project is closely linked to Section 82 of the Environment Act 2021, which requires water firms in England to continuously monitor quality upstream and downstream of certain wastewater assets.

Additive Catchments’ approach uses in-river sensors that captures data every 15 minutes to send to an AI platform that can identify patterns and changes in water quality.

The new network will hugely enhance the current method of taking physical water samples then waiting for lab results.

And, it is hoped it will underpin a new era of transparent environmental data giving the public clear and simple insights into the quality of the nation’s cherished waterways.

Tom Stockwell, Head of Key Accounts, VodafoneThree, said: ‘We’re proud that Vodafone’s advanced connectivity and IoT expertise are enabling Additive Catchments to capture and analyse live data in real time.

‘This partnership is transforming how water quality is monitored, driving proactive action to protect rivers, safeguard ecosystems, and support environmental compliance.

‘Together, we’re combining technology leadership with environmental innovation to deliver meaningful impact for communities and the environment.’