Spectators watch a race on the River Thames at the Henley Royal Regatta in Henley-on-Thames, west of London, on June 30, 2023.
Henry Nicholls | Afp | Getty Images
LONDON — “Alarmingly high” levels of harmful E. coli bacteria have been discovered in the U.K.'s River Thames just days before elite rowers are due to compete there in the international Henley Regatta, anti-pollution campaigners have warned.
Starting Tuesday, around 4,000 rowers from around the world will compete in 400 races to qualify for the iconic regatta, which has been held along the waterway since 1839.
Water quality tests carried out by campaign group River Action before the race found E. coli bacteria up to 27 times the acceptable limit for bathing water, raising health concerns following a rise in E. cases. coli in the country.
E. coli is a diverse group of bacteria that, although generally harmless, can produce toxins that can cause serious illness.
River Action tested the water from Henley Mile (part of the regatta course outside the Oxfordshire town) 27 times between May 23 and June 25 and found an average of 1,213 colony-forming units (CFUs) of E . coli per 100 ml of water. It warned the levels were “alarmingly high” in a statement on Thursday.
Any level above 900 CFU/100ml does not meet the Environment Agency's indoor bathing water quality standards and is considered a threat to public health, the campaign group said.
More than half (47%) of the readings were found to be above the acceptable limit. The maximum recorded was 25,000 CFU/100 ml, more than 27 times higher.
River Action also found levels of E. coli up to 10 times higher in March testing.
James Wallace, chief executive of River Action, accused the government and Thames Water, which manages the area's water supply, of failing to adequately manage water hygiene levels.
“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 fix their leaking infrastructure before seriously ill or worse,” he said in a statement.
Thames Water did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment, although the BBC reported that it had called the findings “alarmist” and was monitoring bacteria levels. CNBC also reached out to the government's environmental agency, but did not immediately receive a response.
Henley Royal Regatta management committee chairman and former Olympic rower Sir Steve Redgrave said the findings were a “stark reminder” of the impact of sewage pollution.
“Our waterways are vitally important to our competitors who compete, but also to all the athletes who train daily across the country,” he said.
Regatta organizers have advised rowers to cover all cuts and blisters and avoid swallowing river water as thousands of spectators descend on Henley on Thames for the event, which runs until Sunday.
The development comes as the UK faces a rise in E. coli cases. Two people with underlying health conditions died after infection with the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) strain. One of the deaths is “probably related” to his STEC infection, the UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) said.
That particular strain is believed to have been transmitted through lettuce leaves inside prepackaged sandwiches.
UKHSA said on Thursday that 275 cases of the strain had been confirmed as of June 25 and urged people to watch out for symptoms which can include diarrhoea, stomach cramps, vomiting and fever.
