Norwich environmentalists call for support to get waterway protected
The River Wensum, near Cow Tower, could have regular quality checks if it's given special status by the Government
Environmentalists in Norwich are calling on local people to help get protection for a stretch of water in the city.
The 'Cow Tower dippers' wants the River Wensum to be given 'designated bathing water' status.
All evidence gathered in this survey will be sent off to the Government- as part of this application to achieve this.
Earlier this year, Norwich City Council backed a motion supporting this bid.
"This is part of a wider campaign"
Gary Champion says regular water quality checks would make a real difference:
"It's a win, win. People are already swimming in the water regularly and to have it cleaned up is good for people.
"Beyond that it's also good for the environment and the aquatic life, nearby.
"You've got all these different animals that rely on the water, it really is a nature corridor that goes through the city.
"People are going to keep swimming in the river whether this happens or not, it is a bathing spot already, whether it's designated or not.
"This is part of a wider campaign to focus the Government on the state of our rivers- people across Norfolk and the UK agree that we need clean waterways".
What is 'Designated Bathing Water Status'?
It's a classification given given to popular swimming locations by the Environment Department.
In these areas water quality is regularly monitored for harmful bacteria to ensure it meets a minimum standard that's fit for people to use for things like bathing and wild swimming.
The routine testing is made public to ensure people can make informed decisions about where and when to use the waterway, itself.
There are currently 17 of these sites in Norfolk and North Suffolk
For a coastal or inland water to be designated as a bathing water:
-It must have at least 100 bathers a day during the bathing season (15 May to 30 September)
-There must be toilet facilities bathers can use during the bathing season, within a short distance of up to about 500m from the site
Monitoring of Bathing water:
The Environment Agency (EA) monitors levels of E. coli and intestinal enterococci at these sites.
They also look for indications of cyanobacteria, macro-algae, marine phytoplankton and waste.
Once testing is complete the EA classifies designated bathing waters every year as excellent, good, sufficient or poor.