Boat Race rowers told not to enter Thames due to high levels of E. coli

Rowers have been told to make sure they do not swallow any splashed water

Rowers taking part in the 2024 Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge in London are among those that have been told not to enter the Thames after high levels of E. coli were found.

Crews have also been warned to cover blisters, and wear footwear when getting in and out of the boat.

Pressure group River Action said tests indicated the bacteria came from sewage directly discharged into the river.

Thames Water said improving river health was a "key focus" for the firm.

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Rowers from both Oxford and Cambridge universities will take to the iconic 4.25-mile Championship Course on the Thames on Saturday afternoon, the 169th men's and 78th women's races.

A water sample taken from the River Thames around Hammersmith Bridge in west London

River Action chief executive James Wallace said: "It is a tragic situation when elite athletes are issued with health guidance ahead of a historic race on the capital's river.

"Our water quality results show what happens after decades of neglect by an unregulated water company, Thames Water."

The E. coli bacterium, which is found in faeces, can cause a range of conditions, including urinary tract infections, cystitis, intestinal infections and vomiting, with the worst cases leading to life-threatening blood poisoning.

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River Action, British Rowing and The Rivers Trust say they are asking the government to enforce the law and prosecute polluters.

They have issued new guidance to rowing clubs on safety in polluted waters, which has been included in the Boat Race briefing packs to both universities.

Sample information

The bacteria was discovered between 28 February and 26 March, using a World Health Organization-verified E. coli analyser.

The 16 tests around Hammersmith Bridge, in west London, indicated an average of 2,869 E. coli colony-forming units (CFU) per 100ml of water.

To meet the Environment Agency's inland bathing water quality standards, the level should be below 1,000 CFU per 100ml.

River Action said the highest level it recorded was 9,801 CFU per 100ml, meaning it was nearly 10 times higher than levels found in bathing waters graded as "poor" by Environment Agency standards.

This is based on publicly available data that showed the water company had discharged sewage into the Greater London area of the River Thames for 1,914 hours from the start of 2024 up to 26 March.

Crews are among rowing clubs that have been told not to enter the water this year

Organisers of the Boat Race have said the universities involved "love" rowing on the Thames but water quality was an "ongoing concern".

"The Tideway especially is a unique stretch of water that tests the technical skill and resilience of the rowers like few others can.

"Water quality is an ongoing concern for the Boat Race and we carry out numerous briefings with the universities and athletes to ensure they are as safe as possible when rowing on the Tideway.

Escherichia coli can cause serious infections, vomiting and blood poisoning

"We regularly consult with our extensive network of rowing clubs on health and safety guidelines and we have put in place a series of precautionary measures this year to protect the health of our athletes."

They added this included "guidance regarding the covering up of open wounds, regular handwashing, a cleansing station at the finish area and highlighting the risks of entering the water".

In a statement, Thames Water said: "We have experienced higher than average long-term rainfall across London and the Thames Valley with groundwater levels exceptionally high for the time of the year.

"The overflows are designed to operate automatically when the sewer network is about to be overwhelmed, which then releases diluted wastewater into rivers, rather than letting it back up into people's homes.

"We are working hard to make these discharges unnecessary and have published plans to upgrade over 250 of our sites."

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