A New Bathing Water for Salisbury
The River Avon in Queen Elizabeth Gardens was designated as an official inland bathing water in May 2026. Since then the Environment Agency has been obliged to monitor for Fecal Indicator Organisms weekly.
High Levels of Both E.Coli and Intestinal Enterococci Found
The first two samples taken by the Environment Agency showed very high levels of E.Coli (4,300 and 6,700cfu/100ml) and Intestinal Enterococci (950 and 620cfu/100ml). The Environment Agency and Wessex Water carried out an investigation, finding a blocked sewer upstream which was overflowing in the river.
Safer Rivers for Salisbury
Thanks to quick action from the Environment Agency and Wessex Water, the blockage was identified and fixed. Subsequent water samples have shown low levels of harmful bacteria in the water. Without bathing water status, this pollution could have gone unnoticed for months, endangering families enjoying the river downstream.
More Monitoring and Another New Bathing Water Site
Are volunteers will continue to monitor water quality in Salisbury and beyond, working to highlight any pollution events. We are also supporting a new bathing water application on the River Nadder in Lower Bemerton, more details to follow!
If you want to get involved with citizen science sampling, or can help us fund test kits, we’d love to hear from you Contact.
