Stonbury is installing dedicated washdown facilities across public access sites in the north of England to help control the spread of invasive non-native species.
In collaboration with clients across the north of England, Stonbury have delivered its first rollout of self-contained free-to-use public washdown facilities designed to help combat the spread of invasive non-native species (INNS) between impounding reservoir sites.
The facilities are being strategically located in high-risk areas used for aquatic recreational activities, popular with walkers, cyclists, anglers and recreational boaters. The stations enable visitors to thoroughly clean equipment, footwear and bicycles on-site, helping to protect biodiversity at critical sites.
Each facility is equipped with washdown hoses, jet washers, boot brushes and wash screens. Wastewater is safely drained, captured and disposed of in a controlled manner to help prevent the spread of INNS. Boot scrubs have also been installed at key areas around the reservoirs to further reduce the risk of INNS being spread to other parts of the site.
Supporting infrastructure includes fencing, footpaths, and informative signage that provides clear, activity-specific guidance on how to use the facilities while educating the public about INNS and the importance of spread prevention.
Invasive species, such as killer shrimp and floating pennywort, have spread rapidly throughout the UK, with recreational activities being a significant contributing factor. INNS are easily transferred via contaminated footwear, fishing and boating equipment, bicycles, vehicles and dogs. They can spread unknowingly through microscopic viable material, such as eggs or seeds.
While some non-native species are harmless, several have become invasive, outcompeting native flora and fauna and causing significant environmental damage, including biodiversity loss and flooding, with sometimes irreversible effects. INNS also impact recreational activities by making water bodies unsuitable for fishing and paddling.
Stonbury supports the national Check, Clean, Dry campaign and encourages all recreational visitors to adopt its protocol and use the facilities. Stonbury plans to collaborate with other water companies across the UK to install similar biosecurity facilities helping to tackle the spread of INNS.
