OPEN ECO: Alex Robertson, Water Testing the River Thames at Fulham Reach Boat Club, London (2025)

Untreated sewage discharges by water companies contain high levels of organic matter. When this matter breaks down in rivers, oceans or open wastewater facilities, it releases methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O), which are potent greenhouse gases.

Sewage pollution causes severe eutrophication (nutrient overload) that triggers massive algae blooms, kills fish and seagrass meadows, reducing the ability to capture and store carbon from the atmosphere.

Collaborating with groups that perform water testing, contributes a visual record of their work holding water companies accountable for their ecological impact.

Over 2,069,363 hours of sewage discharges were recorded across England and Wales in 2026.

Alex Robertson is a documentary photographer based in East London, who explores ecology, the social environment and the wider political landscape. The work he produces aims to question; how can photography be utilised ‘as an activistic and evidential tool’ to challenge and deconstruct corporate and political power structures? He develops long term projects that involve community and investigative research, that aim to expand beyond the conventional documentary approach of eyewitness reporting and photorealism.

United Kingdom
www.alexmrobertson.com
@alex__robertson

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A photo taken on a deck in front of a motor boat. There is a large white board and a green gloved hand holds a sample test kit. On a big plastic lid there's a white clipboard, paper and test tubes.