Water quality was classified along the Thames River, which will host the Oxford Boat Race against the famous Cambridge as poor by clean water activists, as a result of the pollution of wastewater.
The tests that were conducted along the four -miles road, which will be treated by university rowing teams on Sunday, revealed the E Coli levels that exceed three times from the threshold of weakening shower water.
When the site is classified as “poor”, the Environment Agency recommends not to shower due to the risk of human health.
The boat race is a long tradition dating back to 1829. It happened last year He was also suffering from anxiety about wastewater in the riverAnd after Cambridge’s victory, the Oxford team revealed this Some of their number He was sick in the hiring.
Other sporting events were affected by the river. In May, the Times swimming race held for more than 120 years have been canceled On the fears of the disease.
Sir Steve Ridgrif, who holds the Olympic Gold Medal, said the gramus needed to protect against contaminated water. “It is a real concern that in 2025, unsafe water quality in the Thames is still a concern. They collect, river users, and the public deserve the best.”
The test, which was conducted every day of the week between 10 March and April 7, was revealed at the beginning, middle and end of the race road between Putney and Morik, that 29.5 % of the samples exceeded safe limits to enter the water, Nearly three times the “poor” shower threshold.
It was also a particularly dry wave of weather. Raw wastewater is supposed to be drained from storm seals only during exceptional weather, such as severe rain or severe storms. Raw wastewater spills during dry weather can be illegal.
The path does not contain the condition of bathing water, but activists for River Action, who conducted the test, use the threshold as a standard to indicate the threat to public health.
River Action said that the screen on the sewage flow in KEW – at the source of the finishing function of the race – was in a non -communication mode in January, and remained out of operation during the entire test window.
As well as raw wastewater, Times water Draining the treatment plants in the river on a daily basis.
The river believes that pollution is from wastewater treatment plants – which do not have legal limits imposed for E Coli – is a major factor but ignores it in unsafe water quality.
Erika Boubleliole, head of the river societies, said that the victorious boat racing crew should consider twice to throw Cox into water after the race, as well as the habit.
She said that the systematic reform of the water industry and its organizers is required.
She said: “The public is demanding water and the Times organizers now to improve the infrastructure for wastewater treatment.”
“It has benefited from the Times Water from pollution for years while the government failed to enforce the law. It is time to re -financing the company without completing the bills motivation and ending pollution for profit.”
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She called for the Times water to be placed in the hands of the government and its operation for the public benefit.
But attempts to transfer the troubled water company to a special administrative system – that would temporarily put it in the hands of the government – Last month failed after the Court of Appeal allowed to move forward in the Thames River With a rescue loan of 3 billion pounds, at a rate of 9.75 %, which was described as “Supreme Court judge.”
The average bills this month increased from 436 pounds to 588 pounds per year, But the company wants to increase it more.
Rachel Dulay, a sustainability in the British rowing, said.“Rowing instructions when the water quality is bad” It covers the precautions that can be taken to stay in good health when doing the sport they love – the boat race and competing clubs have released this guidance for their athletes.
“There are more than 30 roaming clubs wandering along the boat racing championship on the Thames River every day, and we are constantly working with clean water partners to pay for cleaner water, as well as conducting regular tests to keep our society as much as possible.”
“Rivers are very dynamic environments, and samples can vary greatly during a short period of time,” said a spokesman for the Thlams Water. Board race The path is not the shower area, and therefore we are not funded to disinfect or sterilize the final waste routinely.
In addition, the Times Tedway Tunnel prevented 6376,450 cubic meters of sewage from entering the Times River tidal because it was connected earlier this year and will reduce the volume of discharges entering the Times River in the usual year by 95 %.
“We have a record amount of investment to address the infrastructure of aging and the health of the rivers.”
