New Forest Friends of the Earth find E. coli levels 100 times the legal bathing limit at sewer outlet into Lymington River, town council hears

AN urgent investigation into suspected sewage pollution of Lymington River is being called for by the town council after tests found E. coli levels at 100 times the safe bathing rate at one site.

Gill Hickman, of New Forest Friends of the Earth, told councillors that she had been alerted to a problem sewage outlet by a resident living near the river whose garden is being frequently flooded by foul water.

She said an investigation had shown that the combined sewer overflow (CSO) near the railway line is faulty, and when water from the river and the reed beds around it was sampled, E. coli was found at 51,700 CFU/100ml; the legal safety limit is 1,000CFU and bathing levels are 500.

Gill, a bio-chemist who carried out testing, said: “Results were through the roof.”

She said that the CSO, which is upstream of Wallhampton Bridge between the river and the railway, is faulty causing pollution.

Addressing councillors she said: “People are furious about what's happening in the water industry, so let's focus on what's happening in Lymington, like many English towns, we've got a combined sewage system, meaning rainwater and foul waste share the same Victorian pipes.

“The system, therefore includes combined sewer overflows, or CSOs, designed to release excess flow into the rivers, or the sea at the very last resort.“

Gill said she had met with a resident whose garden had been frequently flooded by sewage contaminated water from the river who had taken her to the CSO that he believed was the cause of the problem.

She said: “What we found was alarming at a CSO just upstream of Wallhampton Bridge. We sampled three times in hot, dry weather, no rain, no reason to discharge. Yet we saw outflow. This was illegal. Dry spill, defined as discharge of untreated wastewater into a river or sea where there's no rain.”

Testing of the water revealed levels of E. coli at an average of over 51,700 colony forming units, CFU, while safe bathing levels are 500. Gill said: “This strongly suggests equipment failure, a persistent leakage, and represents a serious risk to public health and the environment.”

She said she had reported her findings to the Environment Agency and Southern Water who said they had logged her report.

Cllr Jack Davies proposed the town council ask the Environment Agency and Southern Water to carry out “an urgent investigation” into the potential sewage contamination at the location, which councillors agreed to.

He said: “We are asking the Environment Agency to urgently investigate the matter and Southern Water to carry out a full camera survey of foul and surface water lines.

“This affects everyone who enjoys, lives near, or cares about our river. “

His motion was carried unanimously.

Cllr Jacqui England said the whole sewage system under the railway line and around it should be inspected as well “to ensure nothing gets missed”.

Speaking after the meeting, Gill said she carried out the testing after being contacted by Jon Ellis, who is part of the Bottom of Town campaign group.

She said: “Jon said residents near the river had their gardens flooded and could we test for E. coli. I went to meet one resident in June and was quite shocked by his story.

“He showed me pictures of his garden flooded and said, ‘You know there was sewage floating everywhere.’

“At the bottom of his garden there’s a railway CSO where wastewater and foul water meet. He had noticed something disturbing – the reed beds looked stressed and the water at the CSO and nearby smelled foul.

“We then tested the water and the reed beds around it and the results were absolutely through the roof. It was staggering.

“We carried out more tests and they came back with consistently high results. This was not permitted storm release, this was illegal spill and smacks of broken pipes, or cross contamination.”

Gill contacted engineer John Holland, who has investigated the sewer system around the railway. He told councillors at the meeting he believes it all needs to be inspected.

E. coli can cause diarrhoea, stomach cramps, ear, eye, skin and urinary tract infections. It can also lead to sepsis and more serious complications like damage to kidneys.

Gill said: “This section of the river flows through a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), one of the New Forest’s many ecological valuable habitats and supposedly a protected area of international importance.

“Just downstream is Lymington marina and there are many other businesses along the river bank.

“What is being damaged is a connected ecosystem and a tourist economy, not to mention the danger to public health.”

She said the Seawater Swimming Baths would not be affected as the water is treated there.

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “We received a report of a possible pollution incident from a member of the public on 10th July and informed Southern Water, who attended the site.

“Southern Water identified elevated levels of E. coli at a surface water outfall in the Lymington River and is investigating the source of the pollution.”

According to the agency, Southern Water operates a CSO that discharges into the Lymington River via a surface water line.

It said the utility company “suspects a foul water misconnection into the surface water system is the cause of the pollution.”

Southern Water has been approached for a comment.