Avon Water, which is Sway’s local waterway, is currently tested at 12 locations. From Wootton Bridge north of the village down to Efford Mill in Lymington.  The upper headwaters of the Danestream in Tiptoe are also monitored. We test for nitrates, phosphates, and E. coli. All results are reviewed and stored using recognised scientific data standards to ensure consistency and long-term value. Without this, the water companies simply do not take readings seriously. Whenever highly elevated levels of E. coli or pollution are found this in turn is reported to Southern Water and or the Environmental Agency.

Monthly testing has shown that Avon Water in the upper reaches, as one should hope, is pristine and even after this year's drought it has had a consistent steady flow thanks to the beautiful bogs and mires that enter its watercourse from the open forest.   As you move downstream of the village nitrate levels become slightly elevated, with a few spikes of E. coli.  Southern Water will be finishing the upgrades to the Waste Water Treatment Works by the end of this year at Flexford Lane. This hopefully with better treatment, screening and capacity will stop pollution incidents from this location occurring like those during the winter of 2023-2024. 

Currently we have enough volunteers but we do ask residents that if they come across suspected water pollution to report this to the Environmental Agency on their national incident hotline [0800 807060].