You will no doubt have seen the shocking statistics in the news showing the state of our rivers following many years of ongoing pollution. This is why BedsGOVET, a citizen science charity, was formed three years ago to tackle these issues around our River Great Ouse.
Under the Water Framework Directive for England and Wales, only 14% of rivers in England have a good ecological status, and none have a good chemical status.
The primary sources of pollution affecting water bodies in England include agriculture, wastewater, and diffuse urban pollution.
The failure of water companies to prevent sewage discharges has garnered significant attention, raising questions about whether the government and regulatory bodies like Ofwat and the Environment Agency (EA) are doing enough to enforce environmental laws.
The dumping of raw sewage into waterways is a widespread problem across the UK. According to the UK’s EA, the amount of raw sewage spilling into England’s rivers and seas doubled in 2023, with 3.6 million hours of spills compared to 1.75 million hours the previous year.
Human contact with contaminated water can cause illnesses due to harmful microorganisms, including parasites. Sewage pollution might be worse than agricultural runoff in terms of affecting water quality and the riverine community.
Suffocating fish
Phosphates from sewage, along with nitrates, can cause certain vegetation to thrive at the expense of others, resulting in the death of plants and the depletion of oxygen in the water, suffocating fish and other aquatic life.
Ammonium, a form of nitrogen, is another concern as it enters rivers through sources like treated sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial discharges. High levels of ammonium can be toxic to fish and other aquatic organisms and contribute to eutrophication and acidification.
The UK’s antiquated sewer system exacerbates these issues, with surface water and human waste flowing into the same pipes that discharge into rivers.
This system is vulnerable to the volume of water flowing into it, particularly during heavy rain, which can exceed capacity and result in untreated sewage being discharged into rivers.
The pressures on the sewage system are growing due to population growth, increased urbanization, and climate change, which leads to more intense rainfall.
Despite these pressures, the UK has not invested adequately in expanding the sewage system, fixing leaky sewers, and increasing the capacity of treatment works to cope with sewage better and treat it to a higher standard.
What is Happening?
The network of sewers takes wastewater to a sewage treatment works where it is treated and returned to inland waters and the sea.
However, in exceptional weather conditions, water companies are allowed to release untreated sewage into inland waters through storm overflow discharges.
However, monitoring data shows that overflows are being triggered even during low or no rainfall, indicating routine use rather than exceptional circumstances.
Why are We Concerned?
In 2024, the River Great Ouse experienced significant sewage overflow:
- Odell Water Recycling Centre: 165 dumps, 2997 hours
- Bedford: 92 dumps, 1291 hours
In total, there were 257 dumps lasting 4288 hours, equating to almost half a year of continuous discharging. This alarming situation highlights the need for urgent action.
What is BedsGOVET Doing?
Our volunteers are in their third year of testing water quality in the River Great Ouse through Bedfordshire. Initially, testing focused on nitrate, phosphate, and E. coli contamination at 12 sites from Turvey to Great Barford. Results are published and shared with the EA.
Recently, the testing programme expanded to include sections of the river used for recreational purposes, supported by Surfers Against Sewage.
Thanks to much local support and sponsorship, the charity has invested in sophisticated monitors called ‘sondes’, which provide live data to accurately identify pollution sources.
The monitoring now includes ammonium contamination, and testing standards have been elevated to Environment Agency-recognised Tier 2 accreditation. This means the Environment Agency can take action on any contamination discovered.
- Nitrate contamination: Recorded at 80% over OFWAT safe levels
- E. coli contamination: Recorded at over 20,000 coliforms (OFWAT safe bathing level is 900)
Test results are available on the BedsGOVET website: www.bedsgovet.org
If you would like to get involved with this project, please get in touch. We always welcome new volunteers to help with the testing and other activities.
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.
