How clean is the river running through your town — really?

Most people know the river closest to where they live.

Far fewer know what is actually in it.

Would people care more about water quality if simple and understandable information were available locally?

Tell us about the river, stream or lake near you.

Clear water is not necessarily safe water. A photograph can tell us something about litter or colour, but it cannot replace measurements of bacteria, nutrients or chemicals. Even a reliable sample represents a particular place and time. Let us compare what is published locally, how recent it is and whether residents can understand its limits. Please avoid naming a suspected polluter without supporting evidence.

• Can you find recent measurements? • Who collects them? • What would help you understand the results?