Home / Environment / Sewage Pollutes New Bathing River Just 13 Days Later
Sewage Pollutes New Bathing River Just 13 Days Later
5 Jun
Summary
- Salisbury river declared unsafe for swimming 13 days after bathing status.
- Sewage pollution caused by an upstream blocked sewer, not storm overflow.
- Bathing status designation helps detect pollution that could go unnoticed.
Just 13 days after achieving official bathing status, the River Avon at Queen Elizabeth Gardens in Salisbury was found to be polluted with sewage. The designation, effective May 15, was compromised by a pollution alert issued on May 28 due to alarmingly high levels of E.coli and intestinal enterococci.
Subsequent investigations by the Environment Agency and Wessex Water identified a blocked sewer upstream as the cause, rather than storm overflow discharges. This pollution rendered the water unsafe for swimming and paddling. Advice against bathing was issued and remained in place until June 1 to allow the impacts to clear.
Wessex Water is undertaking wider improvements and plans to install AI monitors for real-time water quality data. Campaign group FLOW highlighted the bathing water designation's importance in promptly detecting the pollution, which could have otherwise persisted for months or years, harming aquatic life in the protected chalk river. Residents were reminded to avoid flushing items like fat and wet wipes to prevent sewer blockages. FLOW is now supporting a bid for a third designated bathing site in Salisbury.
