Source of river pollution near designated bathing site linked to farm

A pollution incident in a river in Shropshire has been linked to an adjacent farm. In October, individuals received advice to avoid the River Teme in Ludlow following concerns raised by a local ranger regarding potential water quality impacts from manure. The Environment Agency (EA) reported that it had issued a warning letter to the landowner and was collaborating with them to prevent additional pollution. The BBC reached out to the owner, who declined to provide a comment. Prior tests conducted this year also detected elevated E. coli levels in the river, which holds a designation as a bathing site. Alison Caffyn, a scientist and advocate for clean water, stated, “Swimming in the river really raises your spirits and makes you feel great.” She added, “To find out we were swimming in pollution last summer was awful, there could have been a risk of serious infection.” Caffyn concluded, “It makes me reluctant to go swimming again, despite the benefits I feel.” In May, a section of water within the town received bathing water status from the government, following efforts by the Ludlow Bathing Waters Group. The EA now conducts regular tests at The Linney area to ensure compliance with clean water standards. While it serves as a favored spot for swimmers, tourists, and walkers, the River Teme exhibited excessive pollution levels in September. Data from the agency indicated elevated concentrations of bacteria like E. coli. These bacteria are commonly present in the digestive systems of most animals, including humans, but possess the potential to induce illness under certain conditions. The agency suggested that weather conditions might have contributed to these findings, as the testing occurred on what was recorded as the second wettest day for Shropshire, featuring “30ml of rainfall received in two hours.” During October, a volunteer ranger affiliated with the Severn Rivers Trust expressed apprehension that pollution originating from a nearby farm was contaminating the water. The EA recommended against swimming and erected notices to deter individuals from entering the water. The agency has since identified the source as a farm situated at Priors Halton, located upstream from the town. An agency spokesperson stated, “We have identified the source of the silage effluent pollution as a farm near Ludlow and worked closely with the landowner to quickly stop the pollution.” The spokesperson added, “We have issued the landowner with a warning letter and provided them with advice on how to improve the infrastructure on their farm to reduce the likelihood of any future pollution incidents.” The agency noted that silage, a liquid resulting from the fermentation of grass and other crops, typically does not contain E. coli. It also urged members of the public to report any environmental incidents to its 24/7 hotline.