Information for River Users

The Great Ouse across Bedfordshire is used by many people for fishing, boating, swimming and other water activities. Unfortunately, like many rivers in the UK, the Great Ouse is heavily polluted with chemicals and effluent derived from industry, farming, and most importantly, sewage treatment.

We are often asked to provide accurate and timely information that can be used by the public to manage the health risks associated with using the river recreationally. Unfortunately, there is no simple and reliable way of providing the public withaccurate information on the water quality at any given time or place on the river.

At BedsGOVET, we monitor the water quality at over 20 sites along the river on a monthly basis. This allows us to draw a picture of the state of the river over time and give ourselves evidence with which to engage support for our campaign to clean up the river and hold government agencies, politicians and the polluters themselves to account over the appalling state of the river.

In this Data Portal, we give open access to our data and findings and those of other organisations to anyone who is interested in learning more about the river.

Is the River Great Ouse safe?

Unfortunately, there is no place where our river can be guaranteed to be safe to enter in the Bedford catchment. Users need to manage the risks by never ingesting the water, and covering up any cuts or abrasions on their skin with waterproof dressings to avoid the possibility of harmful bacteria entering their bodies. The most dangerous pathogens are strains of E. Coli that are regularly present in large quantities due mainly to the discharge of untreated sewage into the river.

How can water testing help?

The test results from BedsGOVET can only give you a view on the levels of pollution that frequently exist at each test site. Levels of E. Coli can vary hugely depending upon whether there has been a recent discharge from a sewage treatment plant, there has been sunny weather (UV Light kills bacteria), turbulence in the river bed due to a recent heavy rain, or how fast the river is flowing.

It is best to review the quality of water of a particular location over time to see how frequently and how severely contaminated it has been, and make a judgment on that basis.

The BedsGOVET Test Site Map

The map shown here indicates the location of each of the BedsGOVET test sites where the water quality of the river is tested on a monthly basis by volunteers. The markers you see are characterised by the level of E. Coli pollution that has been identified in each location. Those with blue 'fish' icons

To see a more detailed view of any site's data, click the link...

Turvey Carlton Odell Felmersham Sharnbrook Weir Radwell Stevington Clapham

Bromham Bridge Kempston Queens Park Embankment Priory Lake Kingfisher

Cardington Lock Allen Bridge Great Barford Roxton

Discover More

You will find a full set of results across all of the tests we carry out here:

BedsGOVET Full Water Quality Test Results

... and more detailed explanation and analysis of each of the following contaminants here:

E. Coli Phosphates Ammonia

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