This film starts off by showing just how much humanity relies on water – whether it is for consumption, washing, or for industry. However we also see how much waste that produces in turn, and how the waste negatively affects the rivers through pollution. The film goes on to suggest solutions for saving the river, including the treatment of waste before it is disposed of back into the rivers. Most of this message is told through voiceover, with visuals of the pollution in question, and...

This film starts off by showing just how much humanity relies on water – whether it is for consumption, washing, or for industry. However we also see how much waste that produces in turn, and how the waste negatively affects the rivers through pollution. The film goes on to suggest solutions for saving the river, including the treatment of waste before it is disposed of back into the rivers. Most of this message is told through voiceover, with visuals of the pollution in question, and microscopic imagery to illustrate the science behind the ways in which a river thrives or dies. Opening Titles: Editor Ralph Sheldon Production Assistant Vincent Porter Music Otto Ketting Conducted by Muir Mathieson Producer Douglas Gordon Director Alan Pendry A long shot shows the snowy mountains. Ice can be seen melting and water droplets fall. Plants and flowers are shown next to a flowing riverside. A horse is seen running and then urinating. The river and houses are shown. People are shown drinking water, washing their face, washing clothes, washing potatoes, washing hands and using the toilet. Waste water is flushed down the toilet, and poured down bathroom/kitchen sinks. The waste water is shown as sewage in the river. Water is shown being used in machinery to make products such as newspapers. Water is shown being sprayed over coal. The streets are cleaned using water. The Cathedral is shown being cleaned with water. A car wash is shown. A tower block is shown, followed by shots of reservoirs and sewers. A birds eye view of the town is shown. Peas are shown being washed. There are shots of water being polluted. Meat on hooks is shown being washed. There are several views of the sewage works. Boats travel through the river. Fishermen are seen emptying a net into a boat. A fisherman picks up a fish, smells it and throws it back into the river. A metal container is shown being lifted out of the water by a man in a suit and coat. He opens the container and takes out a glass bottle. A conical flask is being filled up from a tap in a lab, and a glass instrument is used to smell the water. Scientists are seen examining several flasks of water. Water in the mountains is seen trickling over rocks on the natural river pathway. Microorganisms in natural water are seen under a microscopic lens. Leaves/debris falling off trees are seen sinking into the river and flowing downstream. Microscopic fungi attack the leaves as they decay. Microscopic bacteria can then be seen feeding on the leaf waste. Microscopic algae is in water. Protozoa are seen in water. Fish can be seen in the river, along with leaves/debris. More shots of the river are shown. Microscopic bacteria multiplying is shown. The fish swim about frantically. Trees surrounding the river are shown. Microscopic bacteria can be seen dying. Fish are seen dying. Microbes are shown dying. The surface of the river bubbles from the gases caused by pollution. A duck swims through polluted water. Boats travel through polluted foam-covered water. There are shots of the sea, panning up to the clouds. Water splashes down the mountains. There is an aerial shot of the river. The water works and pipes are shown. Waste is seen being broken down with chemicals. Machinery at the water works is shown. A microscopic close-up of bacteria is shown. Water is seen being trickled over stones as treatment to the breakdown of waste. Water travels through more mechanisms at the water works. The town/city can be seen as a backdrop to the river. A man is seen fishing in the river. People are enjoying a boat ride on the river. A car going through the car wash is shown. People are getting a canoe out ready to use on the river. A boy is shown diving into the river. Plates are being washed. A boat race is taking place; there are two boats with a team each rowing them. The surface of the river bubbles again. The Shell logo in a turquoise colour appears on screen.