Anglian Water to monitor sites in Suffolk used for wild swimming
The water firm says it wants to tackle sources of pollution along several local rivers
A water firm is funding work to sample river water at three locations that are used for wild swimming.
Anglian Water said data will be gathered from the River Cam in the south of Cambridge, the River Deben at Woodbridge, Suffolk, and the River Waveney in Bungay, Suffolk.
The company said it will then review any action needed at its own treatment works and networks to clean up these stretches of river to make them safe to swim in.
It comes as local river groups, who already use the areas for wild swimming, consider applying for formal bathing water designation from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
If a site is designated, the Environment Agency will develop a bathing water profile and put plans in place to monitor and protect the bathing water.
By law, the local council must display information about water quality and pollution sources during the bathing season from May 15 to September 30.
Anglian Water said its Get River Positive programme shows it is "focusing on creating a flourishing environment and delivering on the expectations of customers, stakeholders and the environment itself to transform river health across the region".
The firm said it is committed to ensuring that storm overflows and sewage treatment works do not harm rivers and is aiming to ensure that, by 2030, 90% of the region's population live less than one-hour from a designated bathing spot.
Sampling will take place under the guidance of the Centre for Research into Environment and Health (CREH), which is affiliated with the World Health Organisation.
Professor David Kay, of CREH, said: "It is key to ensure the data produced is quality assured and credible.
"This can be achieved by using samplers and laboratories maintained by UK regulators and that are externally audited on a regular basis.
"We are therefore supportive of Anglian Water's proposals to assist local river groups by providing the resources and infrastructure to sample and analyse the data needed to have greater awareness of the baseline water quality in potential future bathing water designated locations."
Martha Meek, development manager from the River Waveney Trust, welcomed the support to monitor water quality, adding: "Water companies have a big part to play in the health of our rivers."
Water quality data is not required as part of an application for bathing water designation but Anglian Water said it hopes that providing a set of baseline data will give information and assurance for users of the rivers.
Director of quality and environment for Anglian Water Dr Robin Price said: "Since the pandemic we've seen an enormous surge of people embracing their local environment and using their local rivers and water courses for wild swimming, paddleboarding and canoeing.
"We fully support the aspirations of our customers that our rivers should be beautiful places, rich in nature, but also know how valuable they have become for community recreation and wellbeing, and the expectation that they should be safe places for people to enjoy.
"We want people to know we are listening - as part of Get River Positive we're committed to playing our part in making that happen by ensuring our operations are not the reason for poor river health, but as importantly, we'll work to bring the right people together who also have a role to play."