Friends of the Itchen Estuary (FOTIE) have published their latest results from testing the water quality of the river, again flagging high E.coli levels at four locations - including at Cobden Bridge.
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The group discovered from previous testing in March E.coli levels 10 times above that considered safe around Cobden Bridge – and as we noted it was a story that was covered in national and regional media.
Now new tests, conducted on April 4, have indicated a water quality rating for all four locations – Cobden, Northam and Itchen bridges and Weston Shelf – of ‘poor’ by Environment Agency standards, according to FOTIE.
The Cobden and Northam locations came in better than previously, but Itchen and Weston Shelf worse, said the group.
It added that it’s hearing increasing reports about rowers, windsurfers and kayakers becoming ill after water activities on the estuary.
You can read the full post about the test results on Facebook. The results are below - click the image for a larger version on bigger screens.
Photo: Swimmer in the Itchen near Cobden Bridge at last year's All Aboard festival, which celebrates the river