The quality of water in the section of the River Thames that will host the famous Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race has been classified as poor due to high levels of E.coli from sewage pollution. The pollution levels are three times the threshold for poor bath water and the Environment Agency has advised against bathing in the river.
The Boat Race has been a tradition since 1829 but last year’s event was also marred by concerns over sewage in the river. The Oxford team had also reported some of their members falling ill. Other sporting events have also been affected and in May, a Thames swimming race that has been held for more than 100 years was cancelled due to health concerns.
Sir Steve Redgrave, an Olympic gold medallist, raised concerns about rower’s safety, noting that it was a worry that in 2025, there was still concern about water quality in the Thames. River users and the public deserve better, he said.
The testing, which was carried out between March 10 and April 7, found that almost 30% of samples exceeded safe limits for entering the water and were three times the threshold for bathing waters rated poor.
The route does not have bathing water status but campaigners for River Action used the threshold as a benchmark to indicate the threat to public health. They also pointed out that the monitor on a sewage outflow at Kew went offline in January and remained out of operation during the testing period.
As well as raw sewage, Thames Water treatment plants also discharge treated sewage into the river on a daily basis. River Action believes the pollution from sewage treatment plants are a major but overlooked factor in the unsafe water quality.
River Action’s head of communities, Erica Popplewell, called for systematic reform of the water industry and its regulators. She also called for Thames Water to be operated for public benefit.
However, attempts to take the struggling water company into an administration regime failed last month after the court of appeal allowed Thames Water to go ahead
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/apr/09/campaigners-find-sewage-pollution-and-e-coli-in-boat-race-water
