River pollution warning at Aysgarth Falls in North Yorkshire

The Stop Ure Pollution (SUP) group has highlighted the "worrying trend" at Aysgarth Falls. 

Citizen science volunteers for SUP took samples on August 21, and found that 20 out of the 45 sites tested along the river and on some tributaries had E-coli concentrations above the levels deemed sufficient for bathing water -  900 coliform forming units (CFU) per 100ml of water.

Aysgarth Falls (Image: HEATHER MIDDLETON) The figures were presented at a public meeting at Leyburn Methodist Church Hall on Tuesday (October 1), which saw Charlotte Simons of the Yorkshire Dales River Trust (YDRT) explain the figures.

She said that the E-coli levels that day had risen above that level from Bainbridge until past Spennithorne, with increased levels also at Masham Bridge and Ripon North. 

The highest level of E-coli was at Lord's Bridge near Wensley. 

The E-coli levels were measured at 3,300cfu/100ml, which would class the site as poor for bathing water with swimmers being advised against bathing there.

"None of the results are incredibly high compared to findings on the Wharfe and the Nidd under similar conditions though probably a bit surprising for low flow conditions," she said at the meeting.

Aysgarth Falls (Image: NORTHERN ECHO) "The days preceding the sampling had been mostly dry with only light rain in places so the levels of E-coli were not influenced by agricultural run-off or Combined Sewer Overflows due to wet weather."

She was particularly concerned about the situation at Aysgarth Falls because, due to it being so popular, it would be a natural candidate for putting forward as a bathing water site.

The campaign group, which was formed in July this year, saw 41 of its volunteers take part in the testing of the river water from Lunds to where the Ure joins the Ouse near Boroughbridge on August 21.

The River Ure (Image: NORTHERN ECHO) The tests also included those for phosphates, ammonia, nitrites, temperature and conductivity and Mrs Simons told the meeting that overall these results reflected a good quality river, although further testing was required on the Skell and Tutt tributaries.

The YDRT and SUP are organising another river-length testing soon when the river flow is high.

However, due to the E-coli results, Mrs Simons stated that there would also need to be another test when the river water was low due to the high levels between Bainbridge and Spennithorne.

Checks would also have to be made below the water treatment plant at Redmire.

The testing of samples at low and high levels is carried out at an independent laboratory and paid for by Yorkshire Water.

SUP now wants to raise funds to carry out further testing itself, and has joined the Sewage Campaign Network. By cooperating with other river groups throughout the country, it is involved in the discussions about the government’s new water bill and the possibility of water companies being placed under special administration.