This page lists our Reports, Presentations and reviews, and our Responses to Consultations
For additional resources relating to water and pollution click here. For Floating Pennywort resources, click here and for Himalyan Balsam click here. Our Newsletters are available here. Our YouTube channel is here
CVF Reports
Press Release: Major nationwide study of Designated Bathing Water monitoring reveals River Cam had the joint highest number (48) of organic chemicals detected
Cam Valley Forum’s top 10 tips to save water and our Chalk Streams, updated August 2024.
Our analysis of the March 2024 “EDM” data release on sewage overflows into the River Cam. March 2024, updated August 2024.
Sewage Sleuthing: investigations in to the source of the faecal pollution at Cambridge’s swimming spots. April 2024
Addressing Cambridge’s Water Scarcity: Our concerns about the proposed Water Credits Scheme, March 2024.
Water quality testing by Cam Valley Forum on The Essex Cam and its tributaries. February 2024 Download here
How low can we go? 2 sided A4 leaflet on “How can we reduce our water use, to help save our chalk streams?” February 2024.
1 sided A4 leaflet on “How to track your own water usage” January 2024.
Application submitted to Defra for Bathing Water Designation of the Cam at Sheep’s Green. Oct 2023. Download a redacted copy here. Note that personally identifiable information has been removed
Cam Valley Forum report concluding that the Cattle on Coe Fen and Grantchester Meadows have no decernable contribution to the Faecal pollution downstream Sept 2023. Download it here
Notes on the History of Swimming at Sheep’s Green July 2023 Download here
Cam Valley Forums top tips for saving water, to help save our chalk streams. May 2023 Download it here
Our investigation of the turbidity (murkiness) in the river Rhee. December 2022. Download report here
Briefing Sheet on Reduction of Abstraction from the Chalk Aquifer. August 2022. Download Briefing Sheet
Phosphate monitoring in the Upper Bourn Brook and its tributaries on shows that the vast majority originated from the discharged effluent from Bourn sewage treatment works (STW). 8 April 2022 Download report here
CVF has successfully sampled a storm overflow event from Haslingfield Sewage Treatment Works. The results demonstrate that such events are of real concern when it comes to the quality of our River’s water for safer bathing. 3 March 2022 Download report here
Water quality monitoring and testing in the Cam and its tributaries: bacterial indicators of faecal contamination, and phosphate and nitrate analysis on 24 August 2021. Download report November 2021
Water quality monitoring and testing in the Cam and its tributaries: bacterial indicators of faecal contamination, and phosphate and nitrate status, on 14 June 2021. Download Report. August 2021
The Cam from Grantchester to Cambridge: A much loved river in need of our care. CVF Report April 2021
Responses to the initial consultation on a tentative proposal for a designated bathing water at Sheep’s Green on the River Cam. CVF report March 2021
CVF Report: River Cam Manifesto: August 2019, updated Dec 2020
Survey of Himalayan Balsam in the Cam Catchment 2019. Sept 2019
Pennywort Pulling Seasons: A guide for community groups. April 2018
CVF Presentations and Reviews
Presentation by Anne Miller on why the bathing water quality is so poor and what should be done about it. October 2024
Presentation by Bruce Huett. Spiritual Inspiration from Landscapes: Cambridgeshire chalk streams and more March 2024. Download here
Presentation at CVF Bathing Water Designation Consultation Event August 2023 . Download here
Review by Bruce Huett of ‘A haven for farmland’, by John Meed. Download the review here
Buy the book here
Two reviews of the delightful “River Friend” series of books by Cambridge University Botanist, Dr Sylvia M. Haslam and professional artist and desktop publisher, Tina Bone. Download the reviews here
AGM 2022 Presentation on “Faecal contamination of our rivers”. 24 March 2022 Download it here
CVF Consultation Responses
Cam Valley Forum response to Defra consultation on the reform of Bathing Water regulations. Nov 2024
Cam Valley Forum comment on planning application 23/03204/OUT for the Beehive Centre, suggestion conditions to be imposed to prevent pollution due to waste water. October 2024
Cam Valley Forum’s response to the consultation on the Fen Reservoir at Chatteris. August 2024.
Consultation response on Cambridge Water’s Water Resources Management Plan. May 2023. Download it here
Consultation Response on the Fenland Reservoir. December 2022. Download it here
Consultation response from the Cam Valley Forum to the Anglian Water Company’s Drainage and Wastewater Management Plan. Sept 2022 Download it here
Response to DEFRA’s consultation on sewage overflows. 12 May 2022 Download it here
Response to Anglian Water’s consultation on the relocation of Cambridge’s Waste Water Treatment Works. 27 April 2022 Download it here
Response in support of Fulbourn village’s appeal to planning inspectorate against inappropriate development. 13 April 2022 Download it here
Response in support of the expansion of Logans Meadow Nature Reserve. 28 March 2022 Download it here
CVF calls on Cambridge Water, Affinity Water, Anglian Water, the Environment Agency, Water Resources East and Water Resources South East to work together to develop one collaborative water resources management plan for Cam Chalk streams. 28 Feb 22, Consultation Response
Cam Valley Forum has objected to the City Council’s proposals for a permanent art installation along the riverbank at Sheep’s Green. We have asked the Council to re-evaluate how the Cam Art budget of £550,000 is being used. 22 Feb 2022. Consultation Response
Cam Valley Forum has pressed the Environment Agency to adopt a nature-based approach to managing flood risk and urged it to reconnect streams to their historic floodplains to restore river and wetland biodiversity. Jan 2022 Consultation Response
Cam Valley Forum response to Greater Cambridge Local Plan Consultation. December 2021 Consultation response
Cam Valley Forum calls for OFWAT and the water companies to deliver effective action to protect and enhance Chalk streams. Consultation response 15 October 2021
Cam Valley Forum urges Cambridge Water to prioritise the protection of Chalk streams in managing public water supplies during droughts. Consultation response. 2 August 2021
Cam Valley Forum urges Affinity Water to prioritise the protection of Chalk streams in managing public water supplies during droughts. Consultation Response. 30 July 2021
Cam Valley Forum has urged OFWAT to press water companies to develop far more ambitious programmes of action to restore Chalk streams damaged over many years by over-abstraction and by pollution from wastewater discharges. Consultation response 22 July 2021
Responses to Cam Valley Forum consultation on the idea of a “Bathing Water” designation for part of the River Cam. March 2021
Cam Valley Forum has challenged OFWAT to give the environment far greater priority in its regulation of water companies, especially where the future of Chalk streams is at stake. Consultation Response. February 2021
Cam Valley Forum is consulting about getting a “Bathing Water” designation for part of the River Cam. CVF Consultation Feb 2021
Response to the Environment Agency Consultation Paper: River Basin Planning: Challenges and Choices. Sets out proposals to improve water flow, water quality, wildlife habitats and flood risk management for the entire catchment. Consultation Response Sept 2020
Our consultation response on Water Resources Management Planning guidance championed the cause of Chalk streams and has drawn specific assurances from Government Oct 2020
Consultation response on relocation of Cambridge Water Treatment Works. Sept 2020
Consultation Response to DEFRA policy discussion document on Environmental Land Management. July 2020
Further Herbicide Consulation Response July 2020
Consultation Response to Greater Cambridge Survey on Green Instrastructure. July 2020