The River Soar begins near Hinckley in Leicestershire and flows through Leicester where it is joined by the Grand Union Canal. It then flows through Barrow-on-Soar, Loughborough and Kegworth, before joining the Trent near Ratcliffe-on-Soar. From then on it goes into the Humber and then the North sea.

The Soar is rich in wildlife with thriving bird, fish and plant populations being popular with wildlife enthusiasts. The river was once notorious for its unusual pink colour - a result of discharges from Leicester's prosperous textile industries. However clean-up work by the Enviroment Agancy has now largely restored it to its natural state.

Industry now wanting to attempt to discharge any sewage waste into the river must now obtain an agreement from the Environment Agency. Several consents have been granted to companies to use the River Soar, however the quantity and quality of the sewage is controlled to a preset amount that is agreed on with the Environment Agency.

The quality of any water is determined by what is able to contaminate the river upstream, the River Soar is constantly monitored by the Environment Agency which keeps check on the level of pollution. The pollution in the water running through the Soar in the city of Leicester slightly improves in quality; however there is a significant decrease in the quality just downstream of the city, where the Wanlip sewage treatment works enters the river.