Getting River Pollution Investigated Like Pulling Teeth

An oil-like substance continues to bubble to the surface of the River Avon in Bristol, leaving a rainbow film and a strong acrid smell that local residents say has plagued the waterway for years. The pollution, which residents connect to dead wildlife along the banks, has drawn an ongoing investigation by the Environment Agency (EA).

Resident Reports and Health Concerns Along the River Avon

Nicola Irvine, who lives in the Crews Hole area, stated that getting the EA to investigate the pollution since she first contacted them in July 2025 has felt like pulling teeth. Irvine noted that she first noticed the oily sheen and strong chemical smell in early 2025, later realizing the substance was bubbling up from the riverbed rather than coming from boats.

The impact on daily life has been severe for nearby homeowners.

It’s hard to describe how bad the smell is – at times it’s like you’re living on a petrol station and you start getting headaches.

Toby White, local resident

Irvine added that summer heatwaves worsened the issue, causing the substance to bubble up aggressively and release fumes that surrounded her home, ultimately leading her to seek medical treatment for migraines. Other neighbors shared similar accounts. Dominic Linnell, who walks his dog by the river daily, stated that he has noticed an awful chemical smell two or three times a week alongside a large oil slick rising from the riverbed for more than two years. Another local, Tristan Dhalla, noted that he had observed the pollution since moving to the area five years ago, with neighbors claiming the problem extends back a decade.

Environment Agency Investigation and Historic Tar Works Suspect

The EA initially dismissed the reports as surface run-off. However, after Irvine persistently submitted photographs documenting dead wildlife, the agency reopened its investigation in May. EA investigations currently suggest that a likely cause is contamination linked to a former tar works that operated in the area from the mid-19th century until the 1980s, though further work is required to confirm the source.

An EA spokesperson stated that the agency has visited the site and is continuing to investigate the source of the contamination and its environmental damage. While minor impacts have been identified where the contaminant enters the watercourse, the spokesperson added that the agency has not found wider environmental effects downstream.

The EA classified the issue as a category three pollution incident because its impacts are limited to the immediate entry point. That classification frustrated Irvine, who pointed out that otters inhabit the river alongside declining populations of ducks and fish. She noted that a stretch of the Avon that once hosted 30 to 40 ducks now rarely sees more than a handful, and she has personally found dead fish, ducks, and ducklings.

Broader Waterway Concerns in Bristol

Public frustration with pollution monitoring reflects wider tensions in the region, including long-running campaigns to protect the Avon near Conham River Park’s popular swimming spot. In 2022, a leaked internal EA report advised staff to disregard lower-impact category three and four pollution reports due to limited investigation funding.

In addition to the Avon site, the EA is investigating a separate incident at nearby Brislington Brook. Volunteers reported foam on the water, an intense chemical smell, and dead fish and eels in that waterway.

Utility and municipal bodies have also responded to the reports. Wessex Water stated that an investigation into their assets found no issues, confirming that the contaminant does not pass through their sewerage network. Meanwhile, a Bristol City Council spokesperson reported that municipal officers visited the site last week and are supporting the EA’s ongoing investigation by providing records and information.