In 2023, sewage discharges into the South East’s rivers and seas reached record levels. With more rainfall comes more wastewater being pumped into waterways, and water companies are responsible for managing the levels of contamination.
While the Environment Agency tests bathing water quality between May and September on a weekly basis, ITV Meridian wanted to carry out their own investigation into water quality after talking with campaigners and volunteers who take it upon themselves to gather data about sewage outflow with mobile chemistry kits. Some coastlines in Kent are not officially tested at all, despite attracting many swimmers.
ITV Meridian called upon Dr Anastasios Tsaousis, a Reader in Molecular and Evolutionary Parasitology at Kent’s School of Biosciences, to test samples from beaches at Bexhill, St Leonards, Hastings, Whitstable and along the River Medway near Maidstone.
Dr Tsaousis tested the water samples, which were taken following some dry weather spells, for the presence of any viruses or bacteria – which could be harmful to both humans and aquatic life. He was pleasantly surprised to find that the tests on the water did not show any alarming levels of bacteria which could have an impact on health. Two from the River Medway and one from St Leonards showed some signs of contamination, but there was nothing particularly worrying to flag.
Yet, Dr Tsaousis did note in the ITV Meridian news piece that the samples are only from ‘one time point on a certain day’ and that really we require continuous monitoring from frequent times of the day too.
Dr Tsaousis suggests that more testing is necessary and that greater collaboration is needed between water companies and academics at institutions like Kent, who will be able to support, monitor and inform water companies and government when action is required.
The University of Kent Press Office can put journalists in touch with academics to help advise and provide analysis on investigations and research. Please contact the press office via pressoffice@kent.ac.uk to find out more.
Dr Anastasios Tsaousis being interviewed by ITV Meridian