Demands for a clean-up of the River Loddon and its banks have received full backing from Basingstoke borough council.
Liberal Democrat leader Councillor Gavin James issued a call at a council meeting last Thursday for a report to be prepared outlining what residents and businesses can do to prevent pollution of the river.
The move comes less than a month after Basingstoke MP Maria Miller slammed failures to tackle spiralling levels of phosphate contamination.
Cllr James said: “Whatever issues there may be about funding, it is humanly possible to build a new road, new roundabout, upgrade a junction and extend a school.
“We can’t build a river in the same way. What is clear is our residents are passionate about our rivers. We need to convert that passion into action. Pollution is a manmade problem and needs a manmade solution.”
The 28-mile Loddon starts at West Ham Farm and runs under Festival Place in Basingstoke before emerging at Eastrop Park and snaking past Old Basing, Chineham, Sherfield-on-Loddon and Stratfield Saye. It then flows into Berkshire and into the River Thames.
A water quality report drawn up in 2009 said that phosphate pollution of the river was six times higher than EU regulations allow due to treated sewage flowing into the water from the town.
Phosphates can destroy rivers by creating algal blooms, which suck up oxygen, killing off fish and other water life.
Earlier this year, councillors cited phosphate pollution of the Loddon as a reason to push for lower housing numbers.
Despite the soaring levels of contamination, the Environment Agency has said no work to improve the water quality will take place for another four years.
But Cllr James said that by working with water companies, businesses and residents the borough council could make a difference.
He called for new buildings to be fitted with water saving toilets and a subsidy for residents to convert their existing loos and for supermarkets to display phosphate contents on dishwasher tablets.
He said: “The council, working with the water companies, could do so much more.
“Our rivers are a critical and irreplaceable part of our infrastructure
“If we reduce our water use by 10 per cent, a 10 per cent increase in population will have no impact on our rivers. As a council, we could and should aim to do more.”
