Spectators watch races on the River Thames during the Henley Royal Regatta in Henley upon Thames on June 30, 2023 in Henley, west London.
Henry Nichols | AFP | Getty Images
LONDON — Anti-pollution campaigners warn that “alarmingly high” levels of harmful E. coli have been found in Britain’s Thames River just days before elite rowers are due to compete in the International Henley Race.
Starting on Tuesday, some 4,000 rowers from around the world will compete in 400 races to qualify for the iconic regatta that has been held on the waterway since 1839.
Water testing carried out by River Action before the game found E. coli levels up to 27 times the acceptable limit in bathing water, raising health concerns as E. coli cases rise in the country.
E. coli is a diverse group of bacteria that, while usually harmless, can produce toxins that can cause serious illness.
operation river test water Twenty-seven tests were carried out between May 23 and June 25 at Henley’s Mile, part of the regatta course outside the Oxfordshire town, and found an average of 1,213 E. coli colony-forming units (CFU) per 100 milliliters of water. It warned in a statement on Thursday that the levels were “alarmingly high.”
The campaign group said any water quality above 900 CFU/100ml does not meet the Environment Agency’s inland bathing water quality standards and is considered a risk to public health.
More than half (47%) of the readings were found to be above acceptable limits. The highest record is 25,000 CFU/100ml, which is more than 27 times higher.
River Action also found that E. coli levels were 10 times higher. March test.
River Action chief executive James Wallace accused the government and Thames Water, which manages the region’s water supply, of failing to properly manage water hygiene standards.
“This is a health emergency. The new government must get the water pollution crisis under control and ensure water companies, including Thames Water, urgently invest in upgrading wastewater treatment plants and fixing leaks before anyone becomes seriously ill or worse. infrastructure,” he said in a statement.
Thames Water did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment, but the BBC reported that the company called the findings “alarmist” and said it was monitoring bacteria levels. CNBC also contacted government environmental agencies but did not receive an immediate response.
Former Olympic rower Sir Steve Redgrave, chairman of the Henley Regatta Management Committee, said the findings were a “stark reminder” of the impact of sewage pollution.
“Our waterways are vital to our competition competitors, but also to the athletes training every day across the country,” he said.
Race organizers advised rowers to cover all cuts and blisters and avoid swallowing river water as thousands of spectators gathered on the banks of the Henley Thames to watch the race, which runs until Sunday.
It comes as cases of E. coli are increasing in the UK. Two people with underlying medical conditions died from infection with Shiga toxin-producing strains of E. coli (STEC). The UK Health and Safety Authority (UKHSA) said one of the deaths “may be related to STEC infection”.
This particular strain is thought to be spread through lettuce leaves in pre-packaged sandwiches.
UKHSA said on Thursday that as of June 25, 275 cases of the strain had been confirmed and urged people to be aware Symptoms may include Diarrhea, stomach cramps, vomiting, and fever.
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