People living in Portsmouth, Hampshire, can now use their mobile phones to report pollution and other hazards in local rivers and beaches following a local rollout in February 2026. The Solent Forum highlighted the regional introduction of the system, which allows residents to share what they see happening in the water in real-time, following its national launch by the Environment Agency earlier that month.
The Environment Agency created the tool, known as BluePrint, so that beachgoers, anglers, and boaters can help spot problems like sewage or algal blooms. Instead of filling out long forms, users scan QR codes on signs near the water to start a chat through WhatsApp or text message.
This project starts at a time when water quality at Southsea East Beach has been rated as poor, with private sewers suspected as a primary cause of the issue. By using these reports from the public, the government aims to increase its site inspections to 11,500 over the 2026-2027 period to better hold water companies to account.
The push for better monitoring follows a £31.9 million penalty handed to Southern Water for failing to hit performance targets related to pollution and leaks. Local authorities hope the new reporting tool will provide a faster way to trigger clean-ups and safety warnings for the community.
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