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Yellow Fish Scheme targets hidden pollution entering river

@Rob Hughes

by Freddie Sandford |

Published on14th May 2026 at 11.13am

A simple yellow fish symbol is being used across Warminster to highlight a hidden problem affecting local rivers.

Warminster Town Council and Wessex Water have launched a campaign marking roadside storm drains that flow directly into the river system, warning that anything entering them goes straight into local waterways.

TV presenter and Angling Times columnist Rob Hughes lives in the local area and gave us an insight into the new campaign

"The land around here is very chalky, great for water quality, and there are a number of small rivers and streams which run through the town. The two significant ones are the Wear, after which the town gets its name, and the Wylye, one of the ‘big seven’ chalk streams in the UK.

"Sadly, as is the case with most of our rivers, the town sewage works regularly discharges into the river and, despite the clear evidence of pollution, this practice goes on pretty regularly under Environment Agency permit. Wessex Water has been working for long time to fit a new storm chamber to help with this. Hopefully, it will reduce the amount of storm discharge it allows to flow into the Wylye. Local people used to swim in it. Now it’s risky even to allow the dogs in.

"What I didn’t realise was that a lot of the storm drains along the road network in our town, and presumably yours, too, discharge straight into the river rather than into the sewer system.

"Warminster Town Council, which I have to say is proactive, has teamed up with Wessex Water to mark all the drains that flow directly into the river system with a yellow fish.

"It’s coined the phrase “only rain down the drain” and hopefully this will reduce the amount of “stuff” that people and businesses pour down the drains.

"It obviously won’t prevent the road run-off, oil, anti-freeze and tyre debris going in, but hopefully it will make people think twice about what they sling down the drain."

A PETITION TO TAKE BACK WATER FROM PRIVATE COMPANIES HAS BEEN STARTED, READ MORE HERE...

The Yellow Fish symbol | Credit: Rob Hughes

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