Tag: anglian water

Sewage Sleuthing the River Cam

Why is the Bathing Water quality so poor, and what should be done about it?

We held a well attended event in Newnham, Cambridge on 23 October 2024 to share the results of our investigations into the poor water quality in the River Cam, at the end of the first Bathing Season after achieving Bathing Water Designation.

Sewage sleuthing presentationDownload the slides here

Following the Environment Agency’s monitoring , it is clear that the official Bathing Water classification will be “poor”. This will trigger advice against swimming, investigations into the causes, and measures to fix them.

We’d expected a poor classification, but the results are shocking: every single E. coli test result is above the 90 percentile threshold of 900 colonies/100ml. The River Cam may well have the worst quality Bathing Water in the UK

Environment Agency Monitoring results for the River Cam, 2024 Bathing Water Season.

We want correspondingly urgent action to improve it, to protect the health of the many people that swim, kayak, paddleboard, punt and row on the Cam.

Our analysis of detailed monitoring done for us by Anglian Water during 2022-3 shows that Haslingfield Sewage works, 4km upstream is a big part of the problem. In summer, E. coli levels peak at the Sewage works, then steadily decline as the river flows past Grantchester Meadows to Sheep’s Green. In winter, and after rain, levels of E.coli are much higher, and they remain high as the water flows downstream

E.coli levels peak at Haslingfield Sewage Works, then steadily improve downstream towards Sheep’s Green

But our investigations show that other causes may also be contributing: its not JUST the sewage works.

These include frequent overflows from the sewage pumping stations in Harston, Haslingfield and Grantchester. These releases flow into various ditches, and then into the Cam

Dilute sewage in the street at Button End, Harston

The Rising Main (the pressurised pipeline taking raw sewage from the surrounding villages to Haslingfield Sewage Works) burst 3 times in 2022 and once in 2024

Raw sewage flowing from a burst Rising Main between Haslingfield and the Sewage Works in 2020

These various overflows have released sewage 35 times since January 2021.

This is in addition to the all too frequent overflows from the sewage works itself, which last year was revealed by Anglian Water’s EDM report to have been overflowing 30% of the time.

Surface water from Newnham Croft flows into the ditch at Paradise Nature Reserve. We think this may be also be contributing when it rains…

Newnham Croft surface water outfall into the ditch at Paradise Nature Reserve

After rain, the ditch goes brown. We’ve tested this for E. coli and as our presentation shows, after rain, E.coli levels reach 100,000 colonies/100ml . This shockingly high level is as bad as in the effluent being discharged from Haslingfield Sewage works.

We don’t yet know where this is coming from. Misconnections in Newnham could easily be a cause, because these are quite common, particularly from extensions when builders take “shortcuts”. These misconnections could be releasing sewage, or other “foul” water into Paradise Nature Reserve and the River Cam.

Dog mess might also be contributing.

A likely misconnection in Newnham Croft, with foul water pipes going into a rain water gulley

To help

  • Check that builders haven’t misconnected your drains (contact us if you want help)
  • Call the Environment Agency, immediately on 0800 80 7060 if you see suspected pollution incidents (this “evidence” helps the Environment Agency’s enforcement)
  • Never, ever, put wet wipes down the toilet (these cause blockages)
  • And join us on the ‘March for Clean Water’ on 3 Nov (show your support for tighter regulation, better enforcement and an end to pollution for profit)

We’ve organised a coach from Cambridge to the ‘March for Clean Water’, or you can make your own way by train. Do join us

Reserve your place on the coach here:

Sewage sleuthing presentationDownload the slides here

City Councillors support bathing water designation.

We are very pleased that at the full Council Meeting on 20 July 2023, Cambridge City Council voted overwhelmingly to approve Cllr Katie Thornburrow’s motion (with a supportive Lib Dem amendment) in support of our proposed application for bathing water designation, subject to consideration by the Environment & Community Scrutiny Committee on 5 October.

The key section of the approved, ammended motion included the statement that : “This Council.. Agrees to evaluate the potential of a formal application to Defra for an inland water stretch along the River Cam within Cambridge City Council boundaries to be designated as a bathing site, working with Anglian Water and local partners such as Cam Valley Forum, in order to secure an improvement in water quality while also taking into account the impact of any increased usage and avoidance of significant additional cost; and requests a report on this to the Environment & Community Scrutiny Committee to inform a balanced decision by the Executive Councillor.”

The Environment & Community Scrutiny Committee meeting is at 6pm on 5 October.

We welcome this addition to our consultation process.

Bathers at The Rush, Sheep’s Green cambridge

Why do we want to apply for bathing water designation?

Cam Valley Forum wants to apply for designated bathing water status for Sheep’s Green, because this is the most powerful way we have to improve the water quality in the Cam, for the benefit of swimmers, paddling kids, punters, kayakers, our rowing crews, other river users. We hope that a reduction in sewage pollution will also benefit our wonderful natural habitats. 

The requirements for designation were changed a few weeks ago, and there is some confusion about this, because the DEFRA website is confusing. However we’ve had clarification from DEFRA that they want to see evidence that an average of at least 100 “bathers” a day use the proposed stretch, at least briefly during the peak 4 hours, averaged over just the 2 peak days of the summer bathing season. We are currently gathering this evidence, so you may see CVF volunteers out counting bathers at peak times at Sheep’s Green. Our impression is that, assuming we have some nice weather this summer, the current bather numbers at our proposed stretch (from Hodsons Folly to The Rush) are sufficient to achieve designation.

It is important to note that designation is about protecting the health of existing “bathers” not attracting new ones. The experience of other inland river groups, such as at the river Warfe at Ilkely in Yorkshire is that designation results in no change in visitor numbers, not least because it highlights the “poor” water quality (as we currently have in the Cam)

This “poor” classification then creates statutory obligations under the Bathing Water Regulations 2013 that should accelerate the much needed improvements in Haslingfield sewage works. 

This is why councils and community groups across the country are applying. Sixteen inland sites have already achieved designation, including Wolvercote Mill Stream in Oxford, the River Wharfe at Ilkely, and the River Deben at Waldringfield in Suffolk.  Hundreds of coastal sites have of course, had designated bathing water status for years.

You can see more detail on our proposal here

Do submit your views to our consultation using the form here.

City Councillors: please support a Bathing Water Designation application for the Cam

Cam Valley Forum urges Cambridge City Council to pledge to support a Bathing Water Designation Application for the River Cam at Sheep’s Green, because of the environmental benefits that it will bring.

This (shown in yellow) is the popular swimming stretch on council owned land, near the Lammas Land carpark, café, toilets and playground, Canoe Club, Learner Pool and Paddling pool. Subject to further consultations, we envisage applying for designation of the stretch from Hodsons Folly (just upstream of the footbridge) downstream to the popular childrens paddling area of The Rush. Our aim is to submit this in October 2023

A successful application would genuinely help clean up the Cam.

Cam Valley Forum has been campaigning for a Bathing Water Designation for the Cam at Sheeps Green since 2021. During the pandemic we carried out an initial consultation to understand the issues and counted bathers. Since then we have been monitoring the water quality, both as a citizen science project, and with Anglian Water. In September 2022 we were very pleased to see that Cllr Pippa Heylings’ motion about investigating a Bathing Water Designation was passed by South Cambs District Council.

A successful Bathing Water Designation application would have real benefits for both the environment and for residents.

As Surfers Against Sewage point out, “Bathing Water Designation shines a light on the water quality at a specific site which puts polluters in the spotlight. Once designation is granted there is a legal obligation for polluters to clean up their act and also a requirement that the government agency for your region tests the water quality throughout the bathing season. Your bathing water will be tested for Intestinal enterococci and Escherichia coli, otherwise known as E.Coli. At the end of the bathing season the designated site will be given a classification of: Excellent, Good, Sufficient or  Poor”

If the quality of the water is “poor”, as our monitoring suggests the Cam will be, this will be publicised on the DEFRA swiminfo website (as in Oxford) This may deter some from swimming, but people need to know.

Importantly, the rating of “Poor” should also release the OfWat funding that will help fix the sources of pollution (we think Haslingfield Sewage Works is a major part of the problem).

We also think the City Council also has a moral duty to support an application. 

In summer hundreds of city residents a day enjoy swimming in the Cam, paddling in the Rush or jumping into the river at the Sheeps Green footbridge, while hundreds more enjoy the river on punts, kayaks, canoes and paddleboards, some of whom also fall or dive into the water at times.  We know wild swimming brings huge benefits in reducing stress, improving fitness and wellbeing and contact with nature. Importantly, its also free.  This is a vital source of recreation in our highly unequal city, with many city residents terrified about how they’ll survive the cost of living crisis.

Swimming at Hodsons Folly

A summer evening outside the Canoe Club

The Children’s Paddling Area at “The Rush”

Nevertheless we know the pollution level is frequently unsafe, and at times people become seriously ill. Swimmers at Newnham Riverbank Club further upstream and our rowing teams downstream are also affected. We think the City Council has a moral duty to support an application, both to inform swimmers about the state of the water, and because it will unlock the funding that will help provide a solution.

Although, during the pandemic, some were concerned that designation would result in swarms of visitors, we think this is most unlikely. Our likely rating of “poor” would be more likely to deter rather than encourage visitors.  Many other inland sites now have bathing water designation, including Oxford, the River Deben in Suffolk, the Serpentine in London and several Country Parks. Cambridge would just be one of many designated sites.

Surely we can’t let Oxford outdo us in taking serious action to clean up our river?