Two children have been hospitalised after contracting E. coli from contaminated water while playing in the River Stour in Bournemouth.
A woman was also left desperately poorly after coming into contact with the water at Christchurch Harbour, prompting fears of wider contamination along the Dorset coast.
Members of the Christchurch Harbour & Marine Society (CHAMS), a group of volunteers who monitor local water quality, fear that several other people may have also fallen ill after entering the water.
Recent testing shows that E. coli levels in the River Stour peaked in mid August and remain at unsafe levels for public recreation.
Under safety standards set by the Environment Agency, the public body responsible for environmental regulation in England, E. coli levels for safe swimming are supposed to be no higher than 1,000 Colony Forming Units (CFU) per 100 millilitres.
However, Martin Stewart, chair of CHAMS, said water test readings taken on August 19 reached 370,000 CFU per 100 millilitres, which is 370 times the maximum recommended limit.
"We aren’t sure where it has come from, but clearly something has happened and whatever it is is a scandal," Stewart said. "I am being fed details of cases of illness where people have been in the water and ending up in Bournemouth Hospital. It's a serious situation."
Hospital admissions and local event cancellations
The two children who were hospitalised had been in contact with the water in Christchurch Harbour shortly before falling ill.
One of the children had a cut on their foot, The Sun reported, which could have acted as an entry point for the bacteria and allowed the infection to develop. In rare cases, E. coli bacteria can spread into the bloodstream, resulting in sepsis, a severe medical emergency.
Stewart added that another woman, a member of a local rowing club, approached the society alleging she became unwell after coming into contact with the water, though she has since recovered.
Following the public health scare, the Christchurch Sailing Club cancelled its on-water events. The incident was first reported by news agency BNPS.
E. coli, short for Escherichia coli, is a bacterial pathogen typically spread through contaminated water or direct contact with infected human or animal waste. Symptoms usually include diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and fever, which fade naturally within days for most people. However, in vulnerable populations, the bacteria can enter the blood and travel to internal organs, causing catastrophic damage. A handful of Britons die from complications of an E. coli infection every year.
Environment Agency launches pollution investigation
Large amounts of rainwater can cause an increase in the presence of bacteria such as E. coli in waterways due to the structure of UK water laws, which permit storm overflows during heavy rain.
The Environment Agency has now launched its own investigation into the outbreak. "We are considering multiple sources of pollution including agricultural and private sewage sources across Christchurch Harbour's large catchment," the agency said.
The agency noted that it does not routinely monitor non-bathing rivers like the River Stour for the bacteria because its presence has no direct impact on the river's ecology.
Officers are actively sampling local waters to trace the pollution source. "Our officers are out taking samples and checking the performance of Wessex Water assets after a reported pollution incident at Christchurch Harbour," the agency added. "We welcome the role citizen-science monitoring can play in improving water quality."
