March for Clean Water

The March for Clean Water, led by River Action, was a landmark campaign launched in November 2025 to force clean water to the top of the UK’s political agenda. In response to growing outrage over polluted rivers, lakes, and seas, the march unified over 141 organisations representing 10 million people. Its aims were clear: to demand urgent action against polluters, overhaul failing regulators, and enforce environmental laws.

The march created a powerful visual impact, with thousands of participants dressed in blue forming a symbolic human river through central London. High-profile supporters, including Chris Packham and Jo Brand, helped amplify its reach, while a robust media and digital strategy secured saturation coverage nationwide.

With 15,000 participants, it became the UK’s largest clean water demonstration, triggering immediate political responses. Within weeks the government introduced a new Water Bill, established an Independent Water Commission, and launched an All-Party Parliamentary Group on Water Pollution. Surveys showed the march mobilised many first-time activists, inspiring lasting public engagement.

The campaign proved a masterclass in modern movement-building. The March transformed diffuse anger into an unstoppable wave of collective pressure, redefining what’s possible when citizens unite to