We have created a new, easy-to-use BedsGOVET Data Portal on our website to help you find out how safe it is to use the river.
We test the river every month to assess water quality at 18 locations along the River Great Ouse, including hotspots such as Great Barford and Felmersham, where many people bathe in the river. Our new portal will help you decide whether you want to take the plunge – or not.
“We are so pleased to provide real-time data that allows the users of the river to check the safety levels before using the river. Our aim is to ensure that people can understand the risks associated with using the river if there has been a discharge.
“We don’t want to stop people from enjoying the river, but we hope that they can enjoy it more safely,” says Alan Horn, Chair of BedsGOVET.
The Portal is a unique information centre and was created and developed by one of our volunteers.
It brings together several important data sources, including the detailed monthly water quality analyses carried out by BedsGOVET’s trained volunteer teams, the Environment Agency’s monthly sampling results, and near-realtime alerts of discharges from monitored water treatment plants along the river system.
By combining these datasets, the Portal enables anyone to understand the pollution risks present in each stretch of the river throughout the Bedford area.
Snapshot of current conditions
At the heart of the site is a clear, easy-to-read water quality dashboard on the home page, offering a quick snapshot of current conditions.
Of particular interest are the discharge notifications reported by Anglian Water, along with levels of key pollutants such as potassium, ammonia, and nitrates.
You can also explore more detailed, colour-coded data showing the severity of pollution at each site. Most importantly for personal health assessments, the Portal displays measurements of E. coli and other harmful microbes across different sections of the river.
For those wanting a longer-term view, the Portal also provides charts and graphics showing how water quality has changed over the past 12 months, helping to spot trends and understand the pressures affecting the river.
Finally, the Portal includes a comprehensive interactive map of the BedsGOVET catchment.
This shows the locations of all BedsGOVET and Environment Agency sampling sites, as well as both monitored and unmonitored Anglian Water treatment facilities, giving a complete picture of the infrastructure influencing the health of the Great Ouse.
We would really like to hear your thoughts on this new development. We do hope that you find it easy to use and a helpful information centre to help keep you safe when using the river.
You can access the BedsGovet Data Analysis Portal via the BedsGovet website.
Want to know more?
Find out more about our work and volunteering opportunities at our next Open Meeting on 14 May at Bedford Brewpoint at 7pm.
We are very appreciative that Wells and Co. have once again made the Brewer’s Table room on the ground floor available for our meeting. We look forward to meeting you there.
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.
