Ellie O'Donnell
@ellieodonnell.bsky.social
Reporter at Unearthed, Greenpeace UK's investigative journalism project. Used to make TV for BBC and C4.
And reported on the BBC:
Thousands of pollution tests cancelled due to lack of staff
Testing programmes affected include those monitoring the impact of drought.
www.bbc.co.uk
July 24, 2025 at 10:11 AM
And reported on the BBC:
This story was in collaboration with @desmog.com
Staff Shortages Have Forced Major Cuts to Environment Agency Water Quality Monitoring, Internal Documents Reveal
This investigation was published in partnership with Unearthed and the BBC The Environment Agency (EA) has dropped 10,000 water quality tests from its work to ensure the health of England’s rivers and...
www.desmog.com
July 24, 2025 at 10:11 AM
This story was in collaboration with @desmog.com
Reposted by Ellie O'Donnell
Unearthed obtained an internal Environment Agency briefing which warned that farmers could stop accepting sewage sludge on their land due to rising concern about contaminants
It says this would have "very serious consequences" as water companies have no "Plan B" for the sludge they produce
It says this would have "very serious consequences" as water companies have no "Plan B" for the sludge they produce
June 10, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Unearthed obtained an internal Environment Agency briefing which warned that farmers could stop accepting sewage sludge on their land due to rising concern about contaminants
It says this would have "very serious consequences" as water companies have no "Plan B" for the sludge they produce
It says this would have "very serious consequences" as water companies have no "Plan B" for the sludge they produce
Great piece on the BBC today too by @jonahfisher.bsky.social
Warning over 'dirty secret' of toxic chemicals on farmers fields
Campaigners say that farmers' fields are being contaminated by chemicals and microplastics in sewage sludge.
www.bbc.co.uk
June 10, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Great piece on the BBC today too by @jonahfisher.bsky.social
See the documents we obtained and more ⬇️
‘No Plan B’: Water companies fear pollution crackdown will stop them spreading sewage sludge on farmland
unearthed.greenpeace.org
June 10, 2025 at 1:58 PM
See the documents we obtained and more ⬇️
Dealing with this crisis could push water companies’ costs into the billions — and that may mean unplanned rises in household water bills before 2030 6/6
June 10, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Dealing with this crisis could push water companies’ costs into the billions — and that may mean unplanned rises in household water bills before 2030 6/6
Another briefing we obtained said that there could be “very serious consequences” as the water industry has “no immediate ‘Plan B’” for the sludge it generates 5/6
June 10, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Another briefing we obtained said that there could be “very serious consequences” as the water industry has “no immediate ‘Plan B’” for the sludge it generates 5/6
Five years on - water companies fear that tightening pollution rules could mean they’re left with “3.4 million wet tonnes” of sludge with nowhere to go, documents obtained under FOI laws show 4/6
June 10, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Five years on - water companies fear that tightening pollution rules could mean they’re left with “3.4 million wet tonnes” of sludge with nowhere to go, documents obtained under FOI laws show 4/6
People are worried that this could be harming farmland, ever since Unearthed uncovered a secret Environment Agency (EA) report showing that this sludge contained a cocktail of toxic contaminants like microplastics and ‘forever chemicals’ 3/6
Secret report details toxic chemicals in sewage used as fertiliser at English farms
The Environment Agency found sewage sludge destined for English fields was contaminated with microplastics, weedkiller, and “persistent organic pollutants”
unearthed.greenpeace.org
June 10, 2025 at 1:58 PM
People are worried that this could be harming farmland, ever since Unearthed uncovered a secret Environment Agency (EA) report showing that this sludge contained a cocktail of toxic contaminants like microplastics and ‘forever chemicals’ 3/6
Sewage sludge is the poo and other solids left behind after sewage is treated. Right now around 90% of the UK’s sludge is spread on farmland, where it is used as fertiliser to help crops grow 2/6
June 10, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Sewage sludge is the poo and other solids left behind after sewage is treated. Right now around 90% of the UK’s sludge is spread on farmland, where it is used as fertiliser to help crops grow 2/6
Dealing with this crisis could push water companies’ costs into the billions — and that may mean unplanned rises in household water bills before 2030.
June 10, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Dealing with this crisis could push water companies’ costs into the billions — and that may mean unplanned rises in household water bills before 2030.
Another briefing we obtained said that there could be “very serious consequences” as the water industry has “no immediate ‘Plan B’” for the sludge it generates.
June 10, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Another briefing we obtained said that there could be “very serious consequences” as the water industry has “no immediate ‘Plan B’” for the sludge it generates.
Five years on - water companies fear that tightening pollution rules could mean they’re left with “3.4 million wet tonnes” of sludge with nowhere to go, documents obtained under FOI laws show
June 10, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Five years on - water companies fear that tightening pollution rules could mean they’re left with “3.4 million wet tonnes” of sludge with nowhere to go, documents obtained under FOI laws show
There is rising concern that this could be harming farmland, ever since Unearthed uncovered a secret Environment Agency (EA) report showing that this sludge contained a cocktail of toxic contaminants like microplastics and ‘forever chemicals’. unearthed.greenpeace.org/2020/02/04/s...
Secret report details toxic chemicals in sewage used as fertiliser at English farms
The Environment Agency found sewage sludge destined for English fields was contaminated with microplastics, weedkiller, and “persistent organic pollutants”
unearthed.greenpeace.org
June 10, 2025 at 1:44 PM
There is rising concern that this could be harming farmland, ever since Unearthed uncovered a secret Environment Agency (EA) report showing that this sludge contained a cocktail of toxic contaminants like microplastics and ‘forever chemicals’. unearthed.greenpeace.org/2020/02/04/s...
Sewage sludge is the poo and other solids left behind after sewage is treated. Right now around 90% of the UK’s sludge is spread on farmland, where it is used as fertiliser to help crops grow.
June 10, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Sewage sludge is the poo and other solids left behind after sewage is treated. Right now around 90% of the UK’s sludge is spread on farmland, where it is used as fertiliser to help crops grow.