Now in our fourth year, BedsGOVET has evolved and grown its reputation for providing invaluable data through our ongoing water testing in the River Great Ouse, from Turvey as it enters Bedfordshire to Little Barford as it leaves.
This means we carry out over 250 site tests annually over the 40-mile stretch, whilst the Environment Agency carries out just a handful of tests per year.
Our testing programme, undertaken by some 40+ volunteers, now includes regular monthly testing at>22 sites for the pollutants endangering the river’s health.
Using Earthwatch methodology, we test for Nitrate and Phosphate contamination and Hanna Checkers for Phosphate and Ammonia.
For E. coli, we take our samples to our chosen UKAS-accredited laboratory, which returns results efficiently.
We also have an arrangement with Surfers Against Sewage at one site where we sample for PFAS (forever chemicals) contamination.
We have installed permanent monitors in the river giving 24/7 data above and below the two main Anglian Water sewage treatment sites.
We donated one set to Birmingham University as part of our growing partnership, and it provides key live data.
Key partnerships
A large part of our work is sharing our data to inform local organisations about river contamination, with the aim of driving change.
We are now a key element of the Bedford Borough Council’s Water Management Partnership, which brings together parties with key interests in the river, including Anglian Water and the Environment Agency.
The momentum we are building means it is now critical that we agree on and focus on the way forward, particularly as we have raised substantial funding and need to keep funders informed about how we are spending their donations.
None of our volunteers receives any money for their efforts, but our testing costs are circa £500 per month – a not unsubstantial figure, whilst the chemicals alone cost over £5000.
We are therefore so grateful to all our sponsors, particularly those that have been with us from the start, such as Brewpoint.
Other funders, such as National Highways, have paid for the expensive Proteus sondes (monitors) and a kayak, and The Rural Fund (via Sharnbrook Parish Council), together with Wixmtree, paid for our In-Situ sondes.
We are seeking further funding to roll out other projects, such as Adopt Brook and Dry Day Testing, in early 2027.
Tackling hand car washes
Our genuine concern that Hand Car Washes (HCW) are a major source of pollution to our river is underwritten by the UK Parliament Environmental Audit Committee, which says:
“…the rapid growth of unregulated hand car washes across the UK poses significant risks to labour exploitation, tax evasion and environmental pollution…”
Unregulated sites frequently allow untreated wastewater, laden with detergents, oils, phosphates, metals and acids, to drain directly into surface water drains rather than foul sewers.
Following discourse with Bedford Borough Council and other institutions, we are pleased to say that it is now adopting the BedsGOVET recommendations going forward on how to manage both existing and new car washes.
This will ensure that all the correct procedures are carried out to minimise the contamination of the River Great Ouse
We are getting there, and the next meeting in mid-November will allow us to measure progress.
Heron Quay mystery
From our recent Outfall Safari work where we map outfalls entering the river via pipes, we have successfully identified a major source of pollution from an outfall at Heron Quay in Bedford.
We have since informed the Environment Agency (following a report by Star Rowing Club in May), which has agreed to address the issue.
Anglian Water has also investigated but has not yet revealed what they have found.
This discovery shows that further mapping is essential and we now need to ensure that all outfalls are mapped across the River Great Ouse.
This is a very large piece of work and will require a dedicated team to plan and undertake the work, weather and seasons permitting.
We are very pleased that Chloe Apicella of the Wildlife Trust is helping us use the industry-standard ZSL methodology to manage this programme, which will take at least 24 months.
We have also secured National Lottery funding for this work. Anyone interested in getting involved in this testing activity is most welcome.
Call out to marketing volunteers
As our work progresses, BedsGOVET is keen to engage new volunteers to help with marketing, such as social media, writing press releases, creating content and videos, and helping with the website, which we are in the throes of updating.
Currently, only two of us volunteer, and it would be lovely to share the workload sometimes. It is a very friendly charity, and we could do much more to spread the word about our work and results.
By Inga Wells. Executive MBA, PG Dip DMS.
The Bedford Independent is proud to support BedsGOVET in their
vital work to monitor water quality in the River Great Ouse
and provide them with space for a column as
part of their Don’t Lose the Ouse campaign.
