Rachel Salvidge
@rachelsalvidge.bsky.social
Environmental journalist. Founder of investigative journalism non-profit https://watershedinvestigations.com/
Bylines: @guardian @thetimes @bbc @SkyNews @itv
Ex: @TheENDSReport @PenguinUKBooks @independent
Rachel.salvidge@watershedinvestigations.com
Bylines: @guardian @thetimes @bbc @SkyNews @itv
Ex: @TheENDSReport @PenguinUKBooks @independent
Rachel.salvidge@watershedinvestigations.com
Pinned
Part two of my investigation into England's water resources.
In short, the system is outdated, under-monitored, economically skewed, and environmentally risky, with reforms needed to avoid long-term water shortages.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
In short, the system is outdated, under-monitored, economically skewed, and environmentally risky, with reforms needed to avoid long-term water shortages.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Rachel Salvidge
NEW: Risky levels of forever chemicals in the raw drinking water sources of at least 6 million people prompted the Drinking Water Inspectorate to order water companies to act to ensure it doesn't make it to the tap. 1/2
Covered today on the BBC and...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Covered today on the BBC and...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Firms ordered to reduce forever chemicals in drinking water for 6m people - BBC News
The persistent pollutants which build up in the environment have been linked to serious illnesses.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 3, 2025 at 8:20 AM
NEW: Risky levels of forever chemicals in the raw drinking water sources of at least 6 million people prompted the Drinking Water Inspectorate to order water companies to act to ensure it doesn't make it to the tap. 1/2
Covered today on the BBC and...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Covered today on the BBC and...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
NEW: Risky levels of forever chemicals in the raw drinking water sources of at least 6 million people prompted the Drinking Water Inspectorate to order water companies to act to ensure it doesn't make it to the tap. 1/2
Covered today on the BBC and...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Covered today on the BBC and...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Firms ordered to reduce forever chemicals in drinking water for 6m people - BBC News
The persistent pollutants which build up in the environment have been linked to serious illnesses.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 3, 2025 at 8:20 AM
NEW: Risky levels of forever chemicals in the raw drinking water sources of at least 6 million people prompted the Drinking Water Inspectorate to order water companies to act to ensure it doesn't make it to the tap. 1/2
Covered today on the BBC and...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Covered today on the BBC and...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Rachel Salvidge
Exclusive: mercury from fillings, belched out of crematoria, is getting into our rivers and fish. More than 98% of fish & mussels tested in English waters contain mercury above proposed EU limits. 43 countries have banned it. Why not here you might ask...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Toxin levels in fish lead to calls for UK-wide ban on mercury dental fillings
Exclusive: More than 98% of fish and mussels tested in English waters contain mercury above EU safety limits
www.theguardian.com
October 30, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Exclusive: mercury from fillings, belched out of crematoria, is getting into our rivers and fish. More than 98% of fish & mussels tested in English waters contain mercury above proposed EU limits. 43 countries have banned it. Why not here you might ask...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Exclusive: mercury from fillings, belched out of crematoria, is getting into our rivers and fish. More than 98% of fish & mussels tested in English waters contain mercury above proposed EU limits. 43 countries have banned it. Why not here you might ask...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Toxin levels in fish lead to calls for UK-wide ban on mercury dental fillings
Exclusive: More than 98% of fish and mussels tested in English waters contain mercury above EU safety limits
www.theguardian.com
October 30, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Exclusive: mercury from fillings, belched out of crematoria, is getting into our rivers and fish. More than 98% of fish & mussels tested in English waters contain mercury above proposed EU limits. 43 countries have banned it. Why not here you might ask...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Rachel Salvidge
The UK is among the most nature depleted counties in the world. A horrendous fact. Can you help reverse this by donating some cash to help the Wildlife Trusts buy the enormous Rothbury Estate so they can bring back wildlife? www.wildlifetrusts.org/appeals/roth...
Donate to Secure the Rothbury Estate | The Wildlife Trusts
Stretching over 3,800 hectares, the Rothbury Estate in Northumberland is abundant with opportunity. It’s the largest continuous area of land to appear on the market in 50 years. Its sale creates a uni...
www.wildlifetrusts.org
October 29, 2025 at 7:59 AM
The UK is among the most nature depleted counties in the world. A horrendous fact. Can you help reverse this by donating some cash to help the Wildlife Trusts buy the enormous Rothbury Estate so they can bring back wildlife? www.wildlifetrusts.org/appeals/roth...
The UK is among the most nature depleted counties in the world. A horrendous fact. Can you help reverse this by donating some cash to help the Wildlife Trusts buy the enormous Rothbury Estate so they can bring back wildlife? www.wildlifetrusts.org/appeals/roth...
Donate to Secure the Rothbury Estate | The Wildlife Trusts
Stretching over 3,800 hectares, the Rothbury Estate in Northumberland is abundant with opportunity. It’s the largest continuous area of land to appear on the market in 50 years. Its sale creates a uni...
www.wildlifetrusts.org
October 29, 2025 at 7:59 AM
The UK is among the most nature depleted counties in the world. A horrendous fact. Can you help reverse this by donating some cash to help the Wildlife Trusts buy the enormous Rothbury Estate so they can bring back wildlife? www.wildlifetrusts.org/appeals/roth...
Leaky, floody and dirty, acc to Ofwat's assessment
October 23, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Leaky, floody and dirty, acc to Ofwat's assessment
And your bills are going up...
October 23, 2025 at 9:10 AM
And your bills are going up...
Reposted by Rachel Salvidge
NEW: Regulators measuring “forever chemicals” near a Lancashire chemicals plant are not testing for a substance made by the company itself, despite evidence it could be reprotoxic and is being emitted in large volumes. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Regulators overlooking toxic Pfas found around Lancashire chemicals plant
Exclusive: Environment Agency not testing for ‘forever chemical’ made by factory despite evidence of emissions
www.theguardian.com
October 19, 2025 at 10:59 AM
NEW: Regulators measuring “forever chemicals” near a Lancashire chemicals plant are not testing for a substance made by the company itself, despite evidence it could be reprotoxic and is being emitted in large volumes. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
NEW: Regulators measuring “forever chemicals” near a Lancashire chemicals plant are not testing for a substance made by the company itself, despite evidence it could be reprotoxic and is being emitted in large volumes. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Regulators overlooking toxic Pfas found around Lancashire chemicals plant
Exclusive: Environment Agency not testing for ‘forever chemical’ made by factory despite evidence of emissions
www.theguardian.com
October 19, 2025 at 10:59 AM
NEW: Regulators measuring “forever chemicals” near a Lancashire chemicals plant are not testing for a substance made by the company itself, despite evidence it could be reprotoxic and is being emitted in large volumes. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Rachel Salvidge
NEW! Thames Water’s £500m desalination plant has delivered just 7 days’ water in 15 years (plus chemical leaks). Now it wants to spend another £500m to suck water from Thames, replace it with treated sewage, all while losing 570m litres a day to leaks www.theguardian.com/business/202...
£500m Thames Water desalination plant has provided just seven days’ water over 15 years
Plant in Beckton has run only five times and has been beset by multiple problems since it was built
www.theguardian.com
September 26, 2025 at 11:59 AM
NEW! Thames Water’s £500m desalination plant has delivered just 7 days’ water in 15 years (plus chemical leaks). Now it wants to spend another £500m to suck water from Thames, replace it with treated sewage, all while losing 570m litres a day to leaks www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Ed Davey's not mad keen on Thames Water's new project, calling it "ludicrous" and "stupid"...
September 26, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Ed Davey's not mad keen on Thames Water's new project, calling it "ludicrous" and "stupid"...
Reposted by Rachel Salvidge
EXCLUSIVE: £500m Thames Water desalination plant has provided just seven days’ water over 15 years! 1/4
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
£500m Thames Water desalination plant has provided just seven days’ water over 15 years
Plant in Beckton has run only five times and has been beset by multiple problems since it was built
www.theguardian.com
September 26, 2025 at 9:54 AM
EXCLUSIVE: £500m Thames Water desalination plant has provided just seven days’ water over 15 years! 1/4
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
NEW! Thames Water’s £500m desalination plant has delivered just 7 days’ water in 15 years (plus chemical leaks). Now it wants to spend another £500m to suck water from Thames, replace it with treated sewage, all while losing 570m litres a day to leaks www.theguardian.com/business/202...
£500m Thames Water desalination plant has provided just seven days’ water over 15 years
Plant in Beckton has run only five times and has been beset by multiple problems since it was built
www.theguardian.com
September 26, 2025 at 11:59 AM
NEW! Thames Water’s £500m desalination plant has delivered just 7 days’ water in 15 years (plus chemical leaks). Now it wants to spend another £500m to suck water from Thames, replace it with treated sewage, all while losing 570m litres a day to leaks www.theguardian.com/business/202...
EXCLUSIVE: £500m Thames Water desalination plant has provided just seven days’ water over 15 years! 1/4
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
£500m Thames Water desalination plant has provided just seven days’ water over 15 years
Plant in Beckton has run only five times and has been beset by multiple problems since it was built
www.theguardian.com
September 26, 2025 at 9:54 AM
EXCLUSIVE: £500m Thames Water desalination plant has provided just seven days’ water over 15 years! 1/4
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Google data centres coming to Hertfordshire?! Sounds a lot like the final nail in an already well-nailed coffin for the local chalk streams. Or will the water be sucked out of the Thames at Teddington for it under Thames Water’s current plans? Keep your beady eyes on this.
September 16, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Google data centres coming to Hertfordshire?! Sounds a lot like the final nail in an already well-nailed coffin for the local chalk streams. Or will the water be sucked out of the Thames at Teddington for it under Thames Water’s current plans? Keep your beady eyes on this.
Reposted by Rachel Salvidge
EXCLUSIVE: England’s farms are being fertilised with a cocktail of toxic landfill juice + sewage sludge.
750,000 tonnes of landfill leachate tankered to sewage works every year → mixed into sewage → spread on farmers' fields. 1/
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
750,000 tonnes of landfill leachate tankered to sewage works every year → mixed into sewage → spread on farmers' fields. 1/
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Thousands of tonnes of toxic landfill liquid added to sewage and spread on English farms
Exclusive: Leachate is tankered to treatment works where it mixes with sewage and industrial effluent
www.theguardian.com
September 12, 2025 at 6:19 AM
EXCLUSIVE: England’s farms are being fertilised with a cocktail of toxic landfill juice + sewage sludge.
750,000 tonnes of landfill leachate tankered to sewage works every year → mixed into sewage → spread on farmers' fields. 1/
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
750,000 tonnes of landfill leachate tankered to sewage works every year → mixed into sewage → spread on farmers' fields. 1/
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
EXCLUSIVE: England’s farms are being fertilised with a cocktail of toxic landfill juice + sewage sludge.
750,000 tonnes of landfill leachate tankered to sewage works every year → mixed into sewage → spread on farmers' fields. 1/
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
750,000 tonnes of landfill leachate tankered to sewage works every year → mixed into sewage → spread on farmers' fields. 1/
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Thousands of tonnes of toxic landfill liquid added to sewage and spread on English farms
Exclusive: Leachate is tankered to treatment works where it mixes with sewage and industrial effluent
www.theguardian.com
September 12, 2025 at 6:19 AM
EXCLUSIVE: England’s farms are being fertilised with a cocktail of toxic landfill juice + sewage sludge.
750,000 tonnes of landfill leachate tankered to sewage works every year → mixed into sewage → spread on farmers' fields. 1/
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
750,000 tonnes of landfill leachate tankered to sewage works every year → mixed into sewage → spread on farmers' fields. 1/
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Pleased to see moves to ban/restrict PFAS in firefighting foams (consultation below) but it is astonishingly late in the day.
Also very pleased to see forever chemicals in the dictionary! Can drop those pesky single quote marks
consultations.hse.gov.uk/crd-reach/pf...
Also very pleased to see forever chemicals in the dictionary! Can drop those pesky single quote marks
consultations.hse.gov.uk/crd-reach/pf...
PFAS in firefighting foam (FFF) restriction proposal
- Health and Safety Executive
- Citizen Space
Find and participate in consultations run by the Health and Safety Executive
consultations.hse.gov.uk
August 19, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Pleased to see moves to ban/restrict PFAS in firefighting foams (consultation below) but it is astonishingly late in the day.
Also very pleased to see forever chemicals in the dictionary! Can drop those pesky single quote marks
consultations.hse.gov.uk/crd-reach/pf...
Also very pleased to see forever chemicals in the dictionary! Can drop those pesky single quote marks
consultations.hse.gov.uk/crd-reach/pf...
Feargal Sharkey accuses Environment Agency of illegally draining River Lea
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Feargal Sharkey accuses Environment Agency of illegally draining River Lea
Fishing club chaired by singer threatens court action over abstraction it says is putting rare trout population at risk
www.theguardian.com
August 18, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Feargal Sharkey accuses Environment Agency of illegally draining River Lea
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Rachel Salvidge
Paths of poison across our oceans:
of 90411 oil spills from ships, only 474 were reported in a 5 year period - satellite analysis exposes high density "slick belts" coinciding with shipping lanes.
Our latest article with @pulitzercenter.bsky.social journalist Saroj Pathirana out now:
of 90411 oil spills from ships, only 474 were reported in a 5 year period - satellite analysis exposes high density "slick belts" coinciding with shipping lanes.
Our latest article with @pulitzercenter.bsky.social journalist Saroj Pathirana out now:
July 29, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Paths of poison across our oceans:
of 90411 oil spills from ships, only 474 were reported in a 5 year period - satellite analysis exposes high density "slick belts" coinciding with shipping lanes.
Our latest article with @pulitzercenter.bsky.social journalist Saroj Pathirana out now:
of 90411 oil spills from ships, only 474 were reported in a 5 year period - satellite analysis exposes high density "slick belts" coinciding with shipping lanes.
Our latest article with @pulitzercenter.bsky.social journalist Saroj Pathirana out now:
Reposted by Rachel Salvidge
Our report on the catastrophic burning of the X-Press Pearl is on BBC News 24 today - working with @pulitzercenter.bsky.social journalist Saroj Pathirana, we've exposed the devastating impact from the wreck of the cargo ship - laden with chemicals, acid, heavy metals + epoxy resin.
July 26, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Our report on the catastrophic burning of the X-Press Pearl is on BBC News 24 today - working with @pulitzercenter.bsky.social journalist Saroj Pathirana, we've exposed the devastating impact from the wreck of the cargo ship - laden with chemicals, acid, heavy metals + epoxy resin.
Reposted by Rachel Salvidge
Lasting toxic legacy of cargo ship disaster off Sri Lanka in 2021 uncovered by BBC & @watershed-i.bsky.social. Plastic pellets spilled in 2021 are now absorbing arsenic, lead, and cadmium—posing long-term risks to marine ecosystems & human health. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
BBC uncovers lasting toxic legacy of cargo ship disaster off Sri Lanka
Scientists warn the damage to the environment after the 2021 X-Press Pearl disaster could be much more enduring.
www.bbc.co.uk
July 28, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Lasting toxic legacy of cargo ship disaster off Sri Lanka in 2021 uncovered by BBC & @watershed-i.bsky.social. Plastic pellets spilled in 2021 are now absorbing arsenic, lead, and cadmium—posing long-term risks to marine ecosystems & human health. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Rachel Salvidge
Uncovering the lasting toxic legacy of cargo ship disaster off Sri Lanka, @WATERSHED_i new investigation for BBC. Has enough compensation been paid? #oceancleanup #plasticpollution #MarineLife www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
July 29, 2025 at 6:01 AM
Uncovering the lasting toxic legacy of cargo ship disaster off Sri Lanka, @WATERSHED_i new investigation for BBC. Has enough compensation been paid? #oceancleanup #plasticpollution #MarineLife www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Rachel Salvidge
Oil, acid, epoxy resin, heavy metals, plastics spewed from the burning wreck into the ocean, searing through local wildlife populations. Fish is a staple food + livelihood in this part of Sri Lanka: overnight, many families lost their livelihood + main source of food:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
BBC uncovers lasting toxic legacy of cargo ship disaster off Sri Lanka
Scientists warn the damage to the environment after the 2021 X-Press Pearl disaster could be much more enduring.
www.bbc.co.uk
July 29, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Oil, acid, epoxy resin, heavy metals, plastics spewed from the burning wreck into the ocean, searing through local wildlife populations. Fish is a staple food + livelihood in this part of Sri Lanka: overnight, many families lost their livelihood + main source of food:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...