Fears raised about pollution levels in River Stour in Sudbury
There are high levels of E.coli and Enterococci bacteria in the water
Babergh councillors are worried over recent high levels of bacteria reported in the Sudbury river.
Two separate samples were taken from River Stour by local councillors and Anglian Water, both revealing worrying levels of E.coli and Enterococci bacteria.
Anglian Water’s recorded levels were revealed at 23,600 no/ml and 1,100 no/ml, despite the threshold for bathing waters ‘poor’ quality status being 900 no/ml and 330 no/ml, respectively.
This is not a new problem, with similar reports dating back to August of last year.
Although the River Stour does not have ‘bathing waters’ status, it is often used by residents recreationally. In fact, the River Stour Trust has been campaigning to earn that status and is currently preparing its formal application.
An Environment Agency (EA) spokesperson explained: “Current regulations for rivers and open waters in England protect wildlife and are not designed for the protection of human health.
“We do monitor E.coli levels at designated bathing waters; however, the River Stour is not a designated bathing water.”
Although harmless for the most part, certain strands can cause severe illnesses such as urinary tract and bloodstream infections, and respiratory illness.
Cllr Laura Smith, of Sudbury South West ward, said: “Anecdotally, every year, we hear about families and children getting very ill.”
In preparation for the application’s outcome, Anglian Water has already begun working with the Trust on a sampling programme targeting the River Stour, water recycling centres and nearby storm overflows.
The programme will include samples taken once a week for 12 months and will help to inform future plans and investment opportunities.
The presence of E.coli in rivers is complicated to track down and is often due to a myriad of reasons, including farming practices and sewage discharges.
A spokesperson for Anglian Water added: “We share our customers’ desire to make our waterways healthier.
“At Anglian Water, we’re committed to playing our part in making that happen and pledge to make sure our operations will not be the reason for poor river health.”
Nevertheless, councillors continue to call for further attention to be paid to water quality in the region.
Cllr Smith added: “My Green colleagues and I are very concerned that our group of citizen scientists are getting results which show extremely high levels of E.coli where people swim.
“We hope Bathing Water Status is granted because the EA will then be able to monitor and investigate the E.coli.”
This follows a council-wide concern about water quality in Suffolk, with Mid Suffolk and Babergh councillors having had the chance to ask questions of the relevant water bodies during a joint meeting earlier this week.
Cllr Rowland Warboys, Mid Suffolk council chair, said: “My concerns are about public safety — I used to swim in rivers and some I won’t even touch, never mind go in.”
To this extent, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, headed by MP for Suffolk Coastal, Thérèse Coffey, continues to advocate for a slew of reforms.
These include, for instance, extending environmental permits to cover dairy and intensive beef farms and unlimited fines for polluting water companies.
A Defra spokesperson said: “Shortly, water companies will also publish action plans for every storm overflow in England, something the Environment Secretary has personally pressed for.”
Ms Coffey hinted at this in Parliament on Monday during a national policy statement in which she said water companies would be given “clarity regarding the government’s planning expectations”.
Although summer temperatures seem like a thing of the past, these readings would classify the waters as ‘poor’ quality and should not be used for swimming.
The EA continues to call for reports of suspected pollution in watercourses to be made using the agency’s incident line at 0800 807060.