# Big River Watch — Fight for better rivers > Citizen science app for UK/Ireland river health monitoring and pollution reporting. (iPhone/iPad app by The Rivers Trust (UK).) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/big-river-watch/id6463412601 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [The Rivers Trust (UK)](https://appshunter.io/developer/1704314996) - Category: Education - Price: Free - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 14.0 · 32 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2023-09-08 - Data updated: 2026-06-01 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/big-river-watch/id6463412601/reviews.md ## What is Big River Watch? Our rivers face threats from plastic, sewage, nutrient and chemical pollution, which harm wildlife and us. The Big River Watch app is simple citizen science survey that anyone can take part in across the UK and Ireland, that aims to help support river restoration. All you need to do is spend a little time watching your local river and answering the questions in the app. From wildlife and water colour to plastics and pollution, Big River Watch app allows you to record your valuable observations and to upload a photograph of your local river. The app also contains handy wildlife and pollution ID guides. All of the surveys submitted will form a large data set that helps us understand what, and where, some of the problems in our rivers lie. This widespread and up-to-date information is key to support measures taken to improve our rivers. You can complete the survey at any time throughout the year, and you can do more than one survey. Surveys can be completed whilst out and then submitted at a later time if there is not sufficient mobile signal at your survey location. You should not enter the river or put yourself in a dangerous position to complete this survey. The Big River Watch is coordinated by The Rivers Trust and supported by partners and funding from: CIWEM and The Rivers Trust Foundation, for Water Research (FWR) legacy fund and Catchment Systems Thinking Cooperative (CaSTCo) project from the Ofwat Innovation fund. ## Key features - Citizen science river surveys - Record wildlife and pollution - Upload river photographs - Wildlife and pollution ID guides - Offline survey submission - Contribute to river restoration data ## Recent user reviews (4 of 4) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/big-river-watch/id6463412601/reviews.md ### 5/5 — The3Engineers *2024-05-06, version 1.0.3* The App was really simple to use and made us think about the present local wildlife and the state of our local river. Even though it is small it is still vitally important to our local ecosystems. ### 5/5 — Great way to really focus on our local river *2024-01-20, version 1.0.2* The apps guidance really allowed me to pause for longer and really look… as a result of pausing longer, I saw a kingfisher on my local stretch of river which I’ve never seen before! ### 5/5 — Big River Watch *2023-09-19, version 1.0.2* Love the excuse this gives me to spend some precious time enjoying my local river. ### 5/5 — Great! *2023-09-13, version 1.0.1* So easy to use and a great way of tracking the health of your local waterway. ## Frequently asked questions about Big River Watch ### What is the main purpose of Big River Watch? The main purpose of Big River Watch is to collect citizen science data on river health across the UK and Ireland. This data helps to understand pollution sources and support river restoration efforts. ### How does Big River Watch help river restoration? By submitting observations on wildlife, water color, plastics, and pollution, users create a large dataset. This widespread and up-to-date information is crucial for identifying problems and guiding measures to improve river ecosystems. ### Can I complete a survey if I don't have mobile signal? Yes, you can complete surveys while out and then submit them later when you have sufficient mobile signal. This ensures that your valuable observations are not lost due to connectivity issues. ### What kind of information can I record with Big River Watch? You can record observations on wildlife present, water color, presence of plastics, and various types of pollution. The app also allows you to upload a photograph of your local river. ### Does Big River Watch have ads? No, Big River Watch does not contain advertisements. The app is completely free to use and does not display any ads to its users. ### Is Big River Watch suitable for children? Big River Watch has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for children. However, adult supervision is recommended for younger users to ensure they understand the survey questions and safety guidelines. ### How often is Big River Watch updated? The app was last updated on February 12, 2026, with version 1.2.0. While specific update frequency isn't detailed, this indicates ongoing development and support for the application. ### What devices are supported by Big River Watch? Big River Watch is available for iPhone and iPod devices. Users with these Apple products can download and utilize the app for river monitoring. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.2.0 — 2026-02-12 Maintenance update. Added Irish language. ### 1.1.0 — 2024-08-29 Maintenance update. ### 1.0.3 — 2024-04-26 Small text changes. ### 1.0.2 — 2023-09-18 Enabled Irish postcodes. ### 1.0.1 — 2023-09-12 Updated translations. 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