WI members are making waves for cleaner rivers: Week of River Action 2026

WI members are once again taking action for cleaner rivers during our fourth WI Week of River Action.

This year's Week of River Action comes at a crucial moment. The Government is proposing major reforms to the water sector, creating an important opportunity to tackle the causes of river pollution and strengthen protections for nature. We need to make sure these reforms go further and faster to stop pollution, restore our waterways and protect the environment for future generations.

And that must include getting serious about microplastic pollution.

What are WI members doing?

As always, WI members are finding creative and engaging ways to campaign in their communities.

In Oxfordshire, Thame WI is inviting local MP Freddie van Mierlo to a river stunt on their local river Thame.

Penistone WI hosted a riverside picnic to raise awareness around river pollution. And in just a swimming costume, their president highlighted the challenges wild swimmers face by swimming in open water.

Meanwhile, members of Mawnan WI organised a community photography display celebrating the Helford River and the efforts made to protect it. The WI has a long history of environmental campaigning in the area.

How the NFWI is campaigning for change

Last week, as secretariat of the APPG on Microplastics in partnership with the Global Plastics Policy Centre at the University of Portsmouth, we launched a landmark report examining the scale of microplastic pollution in the UK. This sets out practical solutions for the next five years, highlighting wastewater as a major pathway for microplastics entering our rivers, soils and food systems, showing yet again why we need to protect our precious blue spaces.

The report received national media coverage, including in The Guardian, and the Prime Minister, in his first appearance in parliament, committed Defra to meet with the APPG to discuss its findings.

The report identifies five priority actions for government:

Establish a clear UK policy framework with legally binding targets and coordinated leadership.
Regulate the largest sources of microplastic pollution through upstream product and design measures.
Strengthen producer responsibility and economic incentives to reduce pollution across the plastics lifecycle.
Improve wastewater, sewage sludge and soil protections.
Build a coordinated national monitoring and evidence system to support effective action.

Alongside this work, the WI has joined more than 40 organisations calling on politicians to seize the opportunity presented by upcoming water reforms and deliver lasting change by ensuring new laws:

Stop the polluters by clamping down on sewage, agricultural and chemical pollution.
Fix the broken system by ensuring water companies put people and nature ahead of profit.
Restore nature by bringing rivers, lakes and seas back to life through healthier habitats, cleaner water and safe public access.

Whether campaigning nationally or taking action in their local communities, WI members continue to demonstrate the urgent need for change. Together, we are putting pressure on decision makers to clean up our rivers, whether it’s from sewage, microplastics or other pollutants.

It’s not too late to get involved! Members can access the Week of River Action toolkit on MyWI.

Four people stood in front of APPG on microplastics sign P Politician speaking