Over the past year, a significant amount of work has been taking place behind the scenes to develop and strengthen the Save Our Taff campaign. While much of the campaign’s early focus centred on public perception and raising awareness of issues affecting the River Taff, we have gradually been transitioning towards a deeper understanding of the challenges facing the river itself. This shift marks an important stage in the campaign’s development, moving from identifying what people know about the Taff to investigating what is actually impacting its health and water quality.

A key part of this transition has been informed by the findings from our public perception survey. The survey highlighted that many people who use, value, and enjoy the River Taff are not fully aware of the pollution issues affecting the river. Understanding this gap in awareness has helped shape the direction of the campaign. Rather than simply continuing to raise awareness in general terms, we recognised the need to first establish a clearer picture of the environmental issues impacting the Taff. By identifying and understanding these challenges, we can build a stronger evidence base from which to raise public awareness and advocate for meaningful change.

To support this transition, we have undertaken a research project that developed a case study of the urban stretch of the River Taff. The study examined the effectiveness of the current legal framework in promoting and enhancing water quality within the river. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research combined legal and policy analysis with the collection and assessment of water quality indicators. This allowed us to explore not only the condition of the river but also how effectively existing legislation and regulatory processes are contributing to improvements in water quality.

For those interested in learning more about the findings from this research, a dedicated blog post has been published which explores the study in greater detail (link below). The article outlines the methodology used, key findings from the case study, and recommendations for how monitoring and management of the River Taff could be strengthened moving forward. We encourage supporters to read the blog and learn more about the evidence that is helping shape the next phase of the campaign.

Building on this work, the water quality testing programme taking place throughout 2026 will follow a similar evidence-led approach. However, the focus will shift towards monitoring identified hotspots along the river and implementing more proactive monitoring strategies rather than relying primarily on reactive monitoring. As well as assessing ecological indicators through River fly monitoring.  This approach reflects recommendations made by the research project and aims to address several limitations identified within the 2025 sampling programme. By targeting locations of concern and collecting ecological data more consistently, we hope to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the pressures affecting the Taff.

The next stage of the campaign will involve analysing the data collected during both the 2025 and 2026 monitoring programmes to identify whether recurring patterns and themes emerge. This will help us build a clearer picture of the river’s key challenges and the factors contributing to them. From there, our focus will shift towards assessing these issues, communicating our findings to the public, and raising awareness of the challenges facing the River Taff. Ultimately, this evidence-based approach will strengthen our ability to campaign for action, engage decision-makers, and advocate for meaningful improvements that protect and restore the health of the River Taff for future generations.