Pollution in our rivers and swim spots: S6 E2

Pollution in our rivers and swim spots: S6 E2

From SwimOut by SwimOut Podcast

May 22, 2025 · 46 min · Season 6 · Episode 10

About this episode

Vicki discusses the impact of pollution on rivers and swim spots with various guests, providing insights on how to identify and address these issues.

Vicki explores pollution in our rivers and swim spots and how this affects us as swimmers. It's quite a grim tale. The episode gives you heaps of great information about identifying and dealing with pollution, so you can be better prepared for your swim. Yvette Tetteh who has swum down the River Volta in Ghana, talks about her swim, the river and the clothing waste from the global north that is clogging it up. She also talks about her charity The OR Foundation which is campaigning for change. Rebecca Duncan from The Rivers Trust talks about different types of pollution, how to spot them and what action you can take. Henry Shepherd from the charity River Action and Honor Teare from Friends Of The Thames meet up with me to test the river Thames and talk about testing and how the data is key for campaigning. Lastly I talk to Claire Robertson from Thames 21 in Oxford about how to get Designated Bathing Water Status for your swim spot. Find out more: ⁠ @swimoutpodcast ⁠or ⁠ swimout.net ⁠

People in this episode

Host: Vicki

Guests: Yvette Tetteh, Rebecca Duncan, Henry Shepherd, Honor Teare, Claire Robertson

Topics covered

  • pollution
  • swimming
  • river health
  • environmental impact
  • charity work
  • water quality
  • bathing water status

Keywords

  • pollution
  • swimming
  • river health
  • environment
  • charity
  • water quality
  • Thames
  • River Volta
  • bathing water

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The OR Foundation, The Rivers Trust, River Action, Friends Of The Thames, Thames 21

Places: River Volta, Thames, Oxford

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