Citizen Science Programmes

How does it work?

The Clean Harbours Partnership was formed in response to local outcry and concern about pollution in Chichester and Langstone Harbours – the Final Straw Foundation was a founding partner. An initial study heightened concerns about risks to human health and damage to our ‘gold standard’ environment. Overall, it highlighted the lack of facts about “What’s in our harbour waters?”. Working with sailing clubs and local interest groups around the harbours to collect water samples, the partnership engaged three universities – the University of Portsmouth, Brunel University, and Brighton University – to study different aspects of water quality in the harbours, from pharmaceutical pollution to microplastics, as well as looking at levels of E.coli.

The Final Straw Foundation is a founding partner of the Clean Harbours Partnership (CHP) and the lead Water Quality Officer for Chichester and Langstone Harbour sailing clubs. The Partnership’s steering committee includes team members from the Final Straw Foundation and local harbour users who are passionate about the water quality in Langstone and Chichester Harbours. The Partnership is also working with the Universities of Portsmouth and Brunel to gather and interpret data that will highlight what really is in our local waters.

The aims of CHP include:

  • Investigate: identify exactly what is in the water in the harbours, including testing the water for biological and chemical pollution. To date, ‘Project Spotlight’ has started to reveal some shocking results from water samples gathered by local volunteers as part of the largest Citizen Science project of its type.
  • Inform: share results with local communities, relevant authorities and governing bodies.
  • Improve: support the creation and implementation of improvement plans by the polluters and custodians of our precious environment.

If you would like to find out more about the Clean Harbours Partnership or get involved, please visit the CHP website.

Biodiversity Programmes
Citizen Science Programmes

365 Water Quality Testing

Working with volunteers from Hayling Sewage Watch, we have launched a year-long citizen science project to test water quality daily across Emsworth Harbour and Beachlands, Hayling Island in Hampshire. Using advanced Fluidion technology, volunteers will deliver same-day results for pollution and E.coli, far surpassing the limited official testing. The project aims to give the community real-time, reliable data to protect public health, create a long-term data set and hold authorities accountable.

A community-led project for cleaner, safer coastal waters

Overview

The 365 Days of Water Testing project is a year-long citizen science initiative led by Final Straw Foundation and Hayling Sewage Watch, running from July 2025 to July 2026 across Emsworth Harbour and Beachlands, Hayling Island.

Our aim is simple: to collect a long-term daily data set of water quality metrics for the two sites, to give the community water quality results that protect public health, build trust, and inform local decision-making.

Objectives

Through this pioneering programme, we aim to:

  • Monitor in real time: Conduct daily testing for E.coli, total coliforms, and other pollution indicators using validated Fluidion technology.
  • Track wider pollution sources: Measure caffeine, paracetamol, phosphate, and nitrate levels to link trends with sewage discharges and nutrient loading.
  • Enhance public safety: Publish results on social media and web so residents, visitors, and water users can make informed choices.
  • Support authorities: Provide complementary data to the Environment Agency (EA) and Havant Borough Council as early warnings of pollution events.
  • Engage the community: Train more than 20 volunteers, involve schools, and share findings openly.
  • Build an evidence base: Identify long-term pollution patterns and hotspots to support better policies and infrastructure investment.

Expected Outcomes

  • Transparent updates that strengthen community trust.
  • Reduced health risks for swimmers, paddlers, and beachgoers.
  • Councils and agencies equipped with additional, actionable data.
  • A positive national example of citizen science driving environmental protection.
  • Greater understanding of sewage-related pollutants and nutrient impacts.
  • Support for local tourism and the economy through a clear commitment to clean water.

How It Works

Each day, volunteers collect water samples across two local sites. Using Fluidion testing devices – the same technology used during the 2024 Paris Olympics – they analyse for:

  • E.coli: A key indicator of health risk.
  • Total coliforms: Broader microbial contamination.

Supplementary testing includes:

  • Caffeine & Paracetamol: Reliable tracers of human sewage contamination.
  • Phosphate & Nitrate: Nutrients linked to sewage and agricultural runoff, which can trigger algal blooms.

If repeated high E.coli levels are found, samples are sent to Envirochem Laboratories for independent verification. All data are shared publicly via our website and social media, and high readings (over 500cfu/100ml) are reported to the Environment Agency and Havant Borough Council.

Communication & Engagement

Transparency and participation are at the heart of the project.

  • Regular Updates: Website & social media.
  • Public Access: Open data dashboard – view our data and more information here.
  • Media Outreach: Local and national press to highlight citizen science innovation.

Monitoring & Evaluation

We’ll track our success through:

  • Outputs: Number of samples, volunteers trained, updates shared.
  • Outcomes: Increased awareness and improved data access.
  • Impact: New insights into sewage tracers, nutrient pollution, and local water quality.
    Evaluation methods will include volunteer feedback, public surveys, data analysis, and policy impact assessment.