THE health of Dorset rivers was under discussion at a meeting near Dorchester.
Wessex Water hosted a launch event for the Frome and Piddle Catchment Initiative, a project which aims to improve the health of the waterways.
It was set up to support a government drive to encourage partnership delivery of environmental improvements.
The event was attended by over 100 people and allowed organisations to share ideas.
Wessex Water, the Environment Agency, Natural England, Frome, Piddle & West Dorset Rivers Fishery Association, the Westcountry Rivers Trust and a host of local partners will work together as part of the initiative.
Neil Punchard of Wessex Water said: “The launch was a huge success as local residents, farmers and all the organisations involved came together to see what is being done to improve these rivers and how they can get involved.”
He added: “The scheme will integrate the existing projects and develop new ones in order to deliver the improvements where needed.
“As a company we’re already investigating the effects of sewage discharge on nutrients in the River Frome, Bere Stream and Poole Harbour and our catchment management team are delivering better quality drinking water with the help of farmers.”
Charles Dutton, chairman of the Frome, Piddle & West Dorset Fishery Association, said the launch event was “excellent” and the association fully supported the initiative.
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