The coach of Oxford’s crew taking part in the Boat Race has described the pollution in London’s River Thames as a “national disgrace” due to high levels of E.coli that have been found along a section of the river. Crew members have been warned about the risks of entering the water and the pollution has cast doubt on the post-race tradition of throwing the winning cox into the water. Figures released by the Environment Agency show that sewage spills into England’s rivers and seas have more than doubled in 2023 compared to 2022, reaching 3.6 million hours of spills in 2023. There has been no suggestion that the annual Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge will not go ahead.
Oxford coach Sean Bowden has expressed concern about the state of the Thames, calling it a national disgrace and stating that the Boat Race should draw attention to the issue. The focus has turned to whether the winning crew will dunk its cox into the Thames at the end of the race, as health and safety concerns have been raised. E.coli bacteria, which can cause a range of health issues, have been found in the Thames, with the source of pollution attributed to utility company Thames Water discharging sewage directly into the river and its tributaries.
Thames Water is facing pressure to clean up the river, although the company insists that elevated levels of E.coli are not entirely their fault, citing various sources of contamination. Under a plan drawn up last summer, Thames Water was asking investors to inject close to 4 billion pounds into the business over the next five years. However, shareholders refused to make the first payment without a big increase in consumers’ water bills, leading to speculation that the company may have to be nationalized. The issue of pollution in Britain’s rivers, canals, and coastlines is expected to feature heavily in the upcoming general election.
The annual Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge is scheduled to go ahead despite concerns about the pollution in the Thames. The focus has shifted to health and safety, with crew members being warned about the risks of entering the water and the post-race tradition of throwing the winning cox into the Thames being called into question. E.coli bacteria have been found in the Thames, with the source of pollution believed to be sewage spills from Thames Water. The company is facing pressure to clean up the river and investor demands for increased funding.
Thames Water is under scrutiny for the pollution in the Thames, with the company insisting that elevated levels of E.coli are not solely their responsibility. Shareholders have refused to inject funding into the business without a significant increase in consumers’ water bills, leading to speculation about the possibility of nationalization. The issue of pollution in Britain’s waterways is expected to be a key point of discussion in the upcoming general election, with the Labour Party stating its commitment to ensuring new investment to fix the broken sewage system without burdening taxpayers.
The pollution in the River Thames has become a significant concern ahead of the Boat Race, with high levels of E.coli posing health risks to crew members. The Environment Agency has reported a significant increase in sewage spills into England’s rivers and seas, leading to calls for action to address the pollution issue. Thames Water, the company responsible for maintaining the Thames, is facing financial difficulties, with shareholders refusing to inject funding into the business without a substantial increase in water bills. The pollution in the Thames is expected to be a key issue in the upcoming general election, with the Labour Party pledging to address the problem and ensure new investment to fix the broken sewage system.
