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Podcast

Dirty Water with Helen Wakeham

A generous and wide ranging conversation about water, mostly dirty water, with the Environment Agency's Director of Water

Helen Wakeham smiling at the camera in front of the River Tone near French weir

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Tackling in detail and giving historical context to the (all too literal) topic of shit in the river, as well as road runoff, farm runoff, PFAs chemicals and plastics. Including practical tips and future ambitions, this is a realistic and well informed deep dive into river pollution, asking what do we want for water, and how much are we willing to change to get it?

French Weir in Taunton with the River Tone in spate

Helen lives on a boat in Bristol, enjoys several different river craft, wild swims, and has made a thirty year career in water. Water is her obsession. She is delighted that water is finally getting the attention in deserves, but life at the EA is not comfortable.