Bacteria levels unsafe at swimming spots on River Waveney at Bungay

This year, the River Waveney Trust is spearheading a community campaign to establish the river at Falcon Meadow in Bungay as an official bathing water site.

As part of its campaign it wants water companies to help keep waterways clean.

Dedicated River Waveney Trust volunteers collected water samples and analysed them to count the colonies of E. coli and Enterococci.

They are found naturally in rivers from animal faeces, but higher numbers indicate contamination, usually from sewage or agriculture.  

Bacterial levels in a gully downstream of the sewage pumping station, known as Tin River, showed levels of Enterococci at 50 times higher than acceptable for rivers given a good bathing water status by the Environment Agency. 

2023 Data, Sewage Spill Frequency and Duration Data for Bungay (Image: River Waveney Trust)

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Bathing water quality at Falcon Meadow showed seasonal variation, often worsening after heavy rain. Swimming, fishing, and paddle boarding are popular at the site.

The headquarters of both Bungay Sea Scouts and Waveney Valley Canoe Club are located there. 

The tests also showed there were two "excellent" areas and one "good" area for water quality.

Canoeing on the river Waveney at Outney Meadow in Bungay. Picture: Angela Sharpe (Image: Angela Sharpe)

Katie Utting, the trust's project officer, said. “England has just three official inland river bathing water sites compared to 573 in France.

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"We want people to enjoy recreation in England’s rivers and feel confident about the water quality.

"In the current framework, only bathing waters are routinely sampled for bacterial pathogens. Where standards aren’t met, the Environment Agency is obliged to intervene. 

"And it’s not just people who are likely to benefit. Phosphates and nitrates found at high levels in agricultural or human waste have a disastrous effect on river wildlife and the food chain.”  

Map of 2023 River Waveney Trust Sample point locations (Image: River Waveney Trust)READ MORE: Police receive complaint about masked man in Bungay

The test results come as the Environment Agency's national sewage spill frequency data showed a 54pc increase in spills in 2023 compared to the previous year due to heavy rain. 

The rope swing at Outney Meadow - a popular wild swimming location in Bungay/Ditchingham (Image: Submitted)

The rope swing at the River Waveney at Outney Common, Bungay. (Image: Denise Bradley)

To ensure its project's success this year, the trust is inviting everyone to demonstrate their support by participating in their events, emailing supportive feedback, or simply enjoying the river at Falcon Meadow. 

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The River Waveney Trust plans a series of events on the first weekend of England’s official bathing water season. 

On Friday, May 17 at 7.30 pm, Matt Gaw, the local author of Pull of the River and Walking in All Weathers, will join the River Waveney Trust for readings and discussions on his love of rivers.

The event will be held at The Fisher Theatre in Bungay.

The Great Bungay Duck Race on the River Waveney next to Falcon Meadow.The puddle duck fancy dress race in July 2016. Picture: James Bass (Image: Archant Norfolk © 2016)

An array of activities were held at Falcon Meadow, alongside the River Waveney in the heart of Bungay in August 2022 (Image: Kate Jackson)