‘Disgustingly filthy’ bacteria that poses ‘risk to human life’ detected in UK waters
DANGEROUS levels of bacteria have been found lurking in flood water from UK rivers, in some cases posing a risk of human life.
Flood water samples collected from parts of the country showed concerning amounts of E.coli and clostridia bacteria, as well as ammonia.
Experts warned that river water contaminated with "disgusting filth and germs" could put endanger people's lives and cause nasty infections.
It comes after the UK was lashed by a succession of storms this year, with extreme weather causing rivers to flood into surrounding areas.
Round Our Way, which supports people impacted by climate change in the UK, collected flood water samples from a child's playground next to the River Severn in Shrewsbury, a housing estate near the river Mole in Surrey, and the River Ouse in York.
It sent to the samples to the Oakshire Environmental laboratory to test for levels of contamination, sharing the results with ITV News.
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Levels of ammonia above what's deemed safe in the UK were detected in all three areas, the news channel reported.
Ammonia levels were especially high in Surrey at 6.1 milligrams per litre (mg/L). Just 0.1 mg/L of the compound were found in in both Shrewsbury and York.
High levels of ammonia in rivers is often an indicator of pollution, according to the Environment Agency.
Though ammonia occurs naturally in waters, it's also discharged into rivers from a range of sources like sewage treatment plants, agricultural fertilisers, and some industrial processes.
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Flood water samples in all three areas showed high showed high levels of E.coli or clostridia bacteria, indicating there were faecal organisms in the flood water.
In Surrey, levels of E.coli were 1,080,000 cfu (colony forming units) per 100ml, compared to the “satisfactory” level of 900 cfu/100ml or less.
Generally, “high” levels of bacteria were found at all locations, and were especially high in Surrey’s river Mole’s flood water.
The level of Aerobic Colony Count - essentially the total number of all bacteria - was 1,240,000 cfu/100ml in Shrewsbury, 570,000 cfu/100ml in York and a “very high” 280,000,000 cfu/100ml in Surrey.
According to the lab results, levels of bacteria and pollution in Surrey and York could pose a potential risk to human life, ITV News reported.
How could bacteria in flood water harm your health?
Dr Gillian Orrow, a GP in Horley warned that coming into contact with contaminated flood water can lead to nasty skin and gut infections.
She told the news channel: “E. coli bacteria are found in the intestines of healthy people. But if we ingest even small amounts of E. coli - if it gets into the wrong place in our bodies - it can cause diarrhoea and vomiting.
“So for example, there could be the situation of a football floating in polluted floodwater which a child fishes out, before they go home and eat a sandwich. They could potentially become ill if they have not washed their hands thoroughly."
Roger Harding, Director of Round Our Way, said the results show the “disgusting filth and germs” that people are exposed to when an area floods.
He warned that this might become more a likelihood too as the UK continues to face storms and adverse weather.
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“The weather climate change brings sadly means the UK is flooding more and more, which is leaving people exposed not just to property damage but also getting really ill.”
Outside of the UK, residents of the America's East Coast were last year warned to be of be wary of flesh eating bugs lurking in waters after five swimmers died from Vibrio vulnificus infections.
What are the symptoms of a bacterial infection?
E. coli bacteria can be behind bacterial infections can cause severe stomach pain, bloody diarrhoea and kidney failure.
According to NHS Inform, it can be caught by:
- Eating contaminated food, such as raw leafy vegetables or undercooked meat
- Touching infected animals or accidentally coming into contact with their faeces
- Contact with people who have the illness, particularly if you do not wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet or before handling food
- Drinking water from inadequately treated water supplies
- Swimming or playing in contaminated water, such as ponds or streams
Symptoms include diarrhoea, stomach cramps and occasionally fever. About half of people with the infection will have bloody diarrhoea.
Symptoms tend to start a few days after being infected and can last up to two weeks.
Meanwhile, symptoms from a Clostridium difficile (C. diff) infection can include:
- Diarrhoea
- A high temperature
- Loss of appetite
- Feeling sick
- A stomach ache