Observations
-
24 November 2025
Kyd Brook S.W.O upstream by Kirsty Blackman
There are lots of leaves and rotting vegetation in the water but that is to be expected as we are in a woodland.
-
24 November 2025
Kyd Brook S.W.O downstream by Kirsty Blackman
There is loads of leaves and rotting vegetation in the water but it is a woodland, so this is normal.
-
24 November 2025
East Kyd Brook by Kirsty Blackman
There is a lot of silt on the bottom of the brook.
-
24 November 2025
Kyd Brook C.S.O by Kirsty Blackman
Even though there has been lots of rain recently the water level is still low, there was a lot of silt over the stones. The E.D.M shows that the last discharge was on 14/11/25 from 19:00-20:00= 1 hr.
-
11 November 2025
Kyd Brook S.W.O upstream by Kirsty Blackman
The EDM shows that the last discharge was yesterday 10/11/2025 from 1pm - 2:30 pm = 1hr 30mins. Even though there was a discharge yesterday and there is obviously a lot of rotting vegetation due to leaves etc in the water way, the ammonia levels are not bad. The reason I am more interested in the ammonia levels is because at this site the water is within a woodland and the brook does not get a lot of sunlight due to shading from the trees, which effect phosphate levels. And there is a lot of rotting vegetation within the water. This is what the Internet states regarding rotting vegetation. Ammonia - high levels are toxic to aquatic life Rotting vegetation significantly increases both ammonia and phosphate levels in waterways. Effect on ammonia/nitrogen - decaying organic matter, including leaves releases nitrogen into the water, initially often in the form of ammonia or ammonium. Naturally occurring bacteria in the water then converts this ammonia to nitrites and then to nitrates- the nitrogen cycle. The decomposition process itself also consumes large amounts of dissolved oxygen, which can lead to hypoxic ( low oxygen) conditions that harm or kill fish and other aquatic animals. Effects on phosphate - as rain flows through leaves etc, phosphorus quickly leaches out, similar to a tea bag. Phosphorus can build up in the water and accumulate in the bottom sediment, where it can persist for decades. Excess phosphate acts as a primary nutrient for algae, leading to rapid growth and algal blooms and blocking out sunlight, decaying vegetation depletes oxygen levels causing eutrophication. In urban areas, fallen levels can contribute up to half of the annual phosphorus load in stormwater during the autumn months alone.
-
11 November 2025
Kyd Brook S.W.O downstream by Kirsty Blackman
The EDM shows that the last discharge was yesterday 10/11/2025 from 1pm - 2:30 pm = 1hr 30mins. The C.S.O is further upstream from here near the old fever hospital site, but this site is downstream. Even though there was a discharge yesterday and there is obviously a lot of rotting vegetation due to leaves etc in the water way, the ammonia levels are not bad. The reason I am more interested in the ammonia levels is because at this site the waterway is within a woodland and the brook does not get a lot of sunlight due to shading from the trees, which can effect phosphate levels. This is what the Internet states re rotting vegetation. Ammonia - high levels are toxic to aquatic life Rotting vegetation significantly increases both ammonia and phosphate levels in waterways. Effect on ammonia/nitrogen - decaying organic matter, including leaves releases nitrogen into the water, initially often in the form of ammonia or ammonium. Naturally occurring bacteria in the water then converts this ammonia to nitrites and then to nitrates- the nitrogen cycle. The decomposition process itself also consumes large amounts of dissolved oxygen, which can lead to hypoxic ( low oxygen) conditions that harm or kill fish and other aquatic animals. Effects on phosphate - as rain flows through leaves etc, phosphorus quickly leaches out, similar to a tea bag. Phosphorus can build up in the water and accumulate in the bottom sediment, where it can persist for decades. Excess phosphate acts as a primary nutrient for algae, leading to rapid growth and algal blooms and blocking out sunlight, decaying vegetation depletes oxygen levels causing eutrophication. In urban areas, fallen levels can contribute up to half of the annual phosphorus load in stormwater during the autumn months alone.
-
11 November 2025
East Kyd Brook by Kirsty Blackman
Due to the amount of rain yesterday, a lot of the silt has been washed away. How rotting vegetation such as leaves effect ammonia and phosphate levels, it may be of interest. This is what the Internet states Ammonia - high levels are toxic to aquatic life Rotting vegetation significantly increases both ammonia and phosphate levels in waterways. Effect on ammonia/nitrogen - decaying organic matter, including leaves releases nitrogen into the water, initially often in the form of ammonia or ammonium. Naturally occurring bacteria in the water then converts this ammonia to nitrites and then to nitrates- the nitrogen cycle. The decomposition process itself also consumes large amounts of dissolved oxygen, which can lead to hypoxic ( low oxygen) conditions that harm or kill fish and other aquatic animals. Effects on phosphate - as rain flows through leaves etc, phosphorus quickly leaches out, similar to a tea bag. Phosphorus can build up in the water and accumulate in the bottom sediment, where it can persist for decades. Excess phosphate acts as a primary nutrient for algae, leading to rapid growth and algal blooms and blocking out sunlight, decaying vegetation depletes oxygen levels causing eutrophication. In urban areas, fallen levels can contribute up to half of the annual phosphorus load in stormwater during the autumn months alone.
-
11 November 2025
Kyd Brook C.S.O by Kirsty Blackman
The EDM shows that the last discharge was yesterday 10/11/2025 from 1pm - 2:30 pm = 1hr 30mins. Even though there was a discharge yesterday and there is obviously a lot of rotting vegetation due to leaves etc in the water way, the ammonia levels are not bad. The reason I am more interested in the ammonia levels is because at this site the water is only just coming out into the open as its been underground for a long stretch, it's also within a woodland and the brook does not get a lot of sunlight due to shading from the trees, which effect phosphate levels. This is what the Internet states Ammonia - high levels are toxic to aquatic life Rotting vegetation significantly increases both ammonia and phosphate levels in waterways. Effect on ammonia/nitrogen - decaying organic matter, including leaves releases nitrogen into the water, initially often in the form of ammonia or ammonium. Naturally occurring bacteria in the water then converts this ammonia to nitrites and then to nitrates- the nitrogen cycle. The decomposition process itself also consumes large amounts of dissolved oxygen, which can lead to hypoxic ( low oxygen) conditions that harm or kill fish and other aquatic animals. Effects on phosphate - as rain flows through leaves etc, phosphorus quickly leaches out, similar to a tea bag. Phosphorus can build up in the water and accumulate in the bottom sediment, where it can persist for decades. Excess phosphate acts as a primary nutrient for algae, leading to rapid growth and algal blooms and blocking out sunlight, decaying vegetation depletes oxygen levels causing eutrophication. In urban areas, fallen levels can contribute up to half of the annual phosphorus load in stormwater during the autumn months alone.
-
7 November 2025
Kyd Brook Hawkswood Estate by Kirsty Blackman
This site is also a riverfly monitoring site, which is monitored by Brian Knight and I, today's results were. 16 gammarus RMI score = 2 Plus 2 x leeches and 1 x stickleback that has parasites, please see attached photos. Today there was a lot of silt on the stones plus a lot of debris which included leaves and a very large Oak branch. A long way upstream from this point there is a C.S.O, it discharged on 29/10/25 from 12:15 - 16:45 hrs = 4hrs 30 mins. But there are numerous surface water overflows (S.W.OS) that discharge into Kyd Brook all along it that very probably cause far more pollution and erosion of the stream because of the enormous amount of water that enters the brook which causes flashing and everything that was on the surfaces is then washed into the brook.
-
-
27 October 2025
Kyd Brook S.W.O upstream by Kirsty Blackman
Lots of leaves on the surface and in the water.
-
27 October 2025
Kyd Brook S.W.O downstream by Kirsty Blackman
Lots of leaves on the surface of the water and in the water.
-
-
27 October 2025
Kyd Brook C.S.O by Kirsty Blackman
There was lots of leaves in the brook today. The EDM (event duration monitor) showed that the C.S.O discharged ( potentially raw untreated sewage) into Kyd Brook on the 23rd October 25 for 2 1/2hrs and on the 20th October 25 for 45mins, please see attached photos. I'm unsure if I have missed any discharge events.
-
13 October 2025
Kyd Brook S.W.O upstream by Kirsty Blackman
There is lots of leaves and silt in the Brook today.
-
13 October 2025
Kyd Brook S.W.O downstream by Kirsty Blackman
Lots of leaves as well as silt in the brook today. Thames water are still carrying out works to remedy the problems with drains that was causing the pollution incidents earlier this year.
-
13 October 2025
East Kyd Brook by Kirsty Blackman
The phosphate levels are unusually high today, this has happened previously when there is building work nearby. There are also some baby fish/fry in the brook in a couple of places. The ones in this location have a few that are showing signs of illness, they have white growths currently on their heads, unfortunately it is impossible tk get a photo. I will report this to the Environment Agency.
-
13 October 2025
Kyd Brook C.S.O by Kirsty Blackman
The EDM (event duration monitor) showed that the last discharge of possible raw sewage into Kyd Brook occurred on 4:10:2025 from 1.45am - 2: 25am = 1hr
-
10 October 2025
Kyd Brook Hawkswood Estate by Kirsty Blackman
This site is also a riverfly monitoring site by Brian Knight and I, today has been very poor indeed. We carried out the 3 minute kick test twice to see if the score would improve but it was worse. The stones were covered in silt, the water wasn't was cloudy due to silt and there was a lot of natural debris. 7 x gammarus RMI score =1 2nd try 5 x gammarus and 1 x leech.
-
10 October 2025
River Pool by Donna Davis
Riverfly score 5 but numbers low (62 gammarus, 10 olives, 3 cased caddis)
