BluePrint and WaterWatch

Get involved and tell us what you see at your local river, beach or lake

The Environment Agency have joined forces with Hello Lamp Post, as part of the Supporting Citizen Science project, to pilot this novel approach for collecting and sharing data and information.

BluePrint and WaterWatch invite local residents and visitors across the country to use a chat tool at local beach, river or lake using the Hello Lamp Post artificial intelligence platform. This is more than a one-way conversation, with residents and visitors contributing to citizen science by sharing their own observations and local knowledge from these sites.

The information from these conversations is helping us to understand who visits these sites, why and how this varies over time. It will also provide us with water quality observations and support incidents reports on signs of pollution.

BluePrint

In February 2026 we launched our pilot national conversation, Blueprint, which will run until 31st of March 2027. This enables everyone, anywhere in the country, to get involved and explore their local river, lake or beach.

You can join in real-time, online using the link or scanning the QR code and providing a location via your device or What3Words, or retrospectively from a past visit.

BluePrint will ask for information on number of water users and activity as well as any other visible water quality observations. The tool provides live data from Swimfo on pollution risk and bathing water designation, nearest known river and tidal height, and weather conditions.

Users are encouraged to upload photos to sit alongside their observations, to help moderate water user numbers and to share concerns or positive sightings.

The data collected will improve our understanding of water use during and outside of the bathing season and in non-designated sites. As well as inform bathing water investigations it can help us to identify pollutions.

WaterWatch

WaterWatch was launched in October 2024 at five locations across the country, with physical signs in place around rivers, lakes and beaches for members of the public to scan and have a conversation. This pilot tested the Hello Lamp Post platforms AI conversation as a tool for collecting citizen science data in the form of visible water quality observations and number of water users and activity. In the first year (until Oct 2025) a total of 4147 conversations by 2937 unique users were recorded.

Further funding has been secured to continue and expand WaterWatch, with signs in place at 8 sites until 31st of March 2027.

Windermere, Cumbria- Rayrigg Meadows, Miller Ground and Fell Foot

Ribble River, Lancashire- Edisford Bridge

Nidd River, Yorkshire- Harrogate

River Teme, Hereford

River Dart, Devon

Worthing, West Sussex - Worthing Goring and Beach House

Ravensbourne, London

Mayes Brook, London

Find your nearest sign by viewing our map.


Get involved and tell us what you see at your local river, beach or lake

The Environment Agency have joined forces with Hello Lamp Post, as part of the Supporting Citizen Science project, to pilot this novel approach for collecting and sharing data and information.

BluePrint and WaterWatch invite local residents and visitors across the country to use a chat tool at local beach, river or lake using the Hello Lamp Post artificial intelligence platform. This is more than a one-way conversation, with residents and visitors contributing to citizen science by sharing their own observations and local knowledge from these sites.

The information from these conversations is helping us to understand who visits these sites, why and how this varies over time. It will also provide us with water quality observations and support incidents reports on signs of pollution.

BluePrint

In February 2026 we launched our pilot national conversation, Blueprint, which will run until 31st of March 2027. This enables everyone, anywhere in the country, to get involved and explore their local river, lake or beach.

You can join in real-time, online using the link or scanning the QR code and providing a location via your device or What3Words, or retrospectively from a past visit.

BluePrint will ask for information on number of water users and activity as well as any other visible water quality observations. The tool provides live data from Swimfo on pollution risk and bathing water designation, nearest known river and tidal height, and weather conditions.

Users are encouraged to upload photos to sit alongside their observations, to help moderate water user numbers and to share concerns or positive sightings.

The data collected will improve our understanding of water use during and outside of the bathing season and in non-designated sites. As well as inform bathing water investigations it can help us to identify pollutions.

WaterWatch

WaterWatch was launched in October 2024 at five locations across the country, with physical signs in place around rivers, lakes and beaches for members of the public to scan and have a conversation. This pilot tested the Hello Lamp Post platforms AI conversation as a tool for collecting citizen science data in the form of visible water quality observations and number of water users and activity. In the first year (until Oct 2025) a total of 4147 conversations by 2937 unique users were recorded.

Further funding has been secured to continue and expand WaterWatch, with signs in place at 8 sites until 31st of March 2027.

Windermere, Cumbria- Rayrigg Meadows, Miller Ground and Fell Foot

Ribble River, Lancashire- Edisford Bridge

Nidd River, Yorkshire- Harrogate

River Teme, Hereford

River Dart, Devon

Worthing, West Sussex - Worthing Goring and Beach House

Ravensbourne, London

Mayes Brook, London

Find your nearest sign by viewing our map.


  • Help us improve our understanding of your local waterways

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    Have you visited your local river, lake or beach and noticed other people swimming, paddling or enjoying the water?

    Now there's a simple way to help us build a better picture of how these places are used. Citizen scientists are members of the public who voluntarily collect and share information to support scientific research and environmental monitoring. This is where you come in.

    BluePrint is a digital tool that lets people record the number of swimmers and other water users they see while they're out and about. You can take part straight from your phone, helping us better understand how

    Have you visited your local river, lake or beach and noticed other people swimming, paddling or enjoying the water?

    Now there's a simple way to help us build a better picture of how these places are used. Citizen scientists are members of the public who voluntarily collect and share information to support scientific research and environmental monitoring. This is where you come in.

    BluePrint is a digital tool that lets people record the number of swimmers and other water users they see while they're out and about. You can take part straight from your phone, helping us better understand how England's rivers, lakes and beaches are being enjoyed.

    BluePrint is live until April 2027 and the information collected will help create a national picture of how England's bathing waters and other popular water spaces are used throughout the year.

    A minute of your time can help make a real difference to the future of our rivers, lakes and beaches.

    Anyone can take part.

    The next time you're visiting a river, lake or beach, simply use BluePrint on your phone to share what you see. Regular observations from people who frequently visit the same locations are especially valuable, helping us understand how water use changes over time.

    By taking part, you'll be helping improve our understanding of local waterways and supporting better environmental decision making.

    Developed by the Environment Agency in partnership with Hello Lamp Post, BluePrint builds on the success of WaterWatch, a pilot project that collected public observations at five bathing water sites. We've now expanded the project across England so more people can share what they see when they visit their local waters.

    Helping us understand our waterways

    England's waterways are constantly changing. While the Environment Agency regularly monitors the health and quality of England's waters, we need more than measurements alone to understand how people use and experience these places.

    The data alone doesn't tell the whole story

    That's why we're asking people who use these places to share their experiences. By working with citizen scientists and local communities, we can gain a better understanding of when, where and how people use rivers, lakes and beaches across the country.

    Every observation helps build a clearer picture of how these important spaces are used and enjoyed.

    How can I use BluePrint?

    Using your phone, you can:

    • Record how many people are using the water or surrounding area
    • Tell us what activities people are doing, such as swimming, paddling or relaxing by the water
    • Upload photos to help support your observations (Whilst considering people’s privacy)

    Because BluePrint uses location technology, it's easy to share information from wherever you are.

    Get involved with the conversation here

  • Launching BluePrint: Expanding citizen science across England's waterways

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  • AI-powered smart signs have come to Worthing’s bathing waters

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  • What citizen scientists are telling us about bathing waters through AI signposts

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Page last updated: 15 Oct 2026, 12:10 PM