A London The rower explained how she and her teammates all fell ill at the same time following their training session on the Thames, attributing it to 'agua de caca'.
Eleanor Warren mentioned that she isn’t shocked by the latest test results which indicated elevated presence of fecal bacteria E. coli in the water.
The rower as well as the research scientist have been collaborating together. charity River Action to oversee the river before its largest annual event, with teams participating from various places. Oxford and Cambridge will clash on the tideway tomorrow.
From the time they began testing last month, 29.5% of samples surpassed the safe levels, with some being nearly triple the Environmental Agency’s standard for categorizing water as 'poor' quality for swimming areas.
The peak measurement was taken at Chiswick Bridge, where the tradition involves throwing the winning team's coxswain into the river.
Dr Warren, 31, told Diwida > that there have been a few times where ‘multiple people’ have come down with diarrhea and vomiting at the same time after rowing on the Thames.
‘You can definitely tell when the water is extra bad,’ she said. ‘There will be brown foam, and it will be smelly.
‘And then when we take the boats off the water, you can see that they’re covered in a thick layer of scum.’
In June 2023, she posted WhatsApp messages from her team members after five of them fell ill simultaneously with an ailment they referred to as 'Thames Belly'.
‘Wow, the Thames is definitely not happy with us,’ someone commented after another mentioned they were experiencing stomach cramps and feeling dizzy.
Three individuals from Oxford's team participated previously suffered from stomach bugs in the build-up to last year’s race, with rower Leonard Jenkins later suggesting his University’s losing effort was hampered by ‘so much poo in the water’.
River Action said their recent findings of high E. coli levels could not be explained by rainy weather increasing sewage discharges, because the weather has been generally warm and dry, which raises ‘serious questions about unlawful discharges or persistent pollution sources’.
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Rowers at Putney Town Rowing Club have been doing testing alongside rowers at Fulham Reach.
Dr Warren, who rows with Putney Town, said: ‘We as a club were interested in getting involved because we knew that people had been getting sick, and we were interested in like knowing how bad it actually is.
'I spend time on the water multiple times each week, and witnessing its condition inspires me to improve it, not just for myself but also for others who participate in this activity.'
The rower, holding a PhD in molecular biology, commented on the findings saying, "It isn’t exactly surprising after observing the water quality for so long, but it still is disheartening."
Sir Steve Redgrave has similarly addressed concerns regarding water quality before the event. condemning the 'dangerous' water situation.
The sports icon, who claimed gold medals across five successive Olympic Games from 1984 to 2000, stated: "Oarsmen, those who use rivers, and the general public deserve more."
'This goes beyond rowing; it's about the public health of everyone who uses the river. It concerns our surroundings too. Most importantly, it's about safeguarding one of the planet’s most famous waterways for future generations.'
The section of the Thames where The Boat Race takes place is not classified as bathing water; however, it is frequently utilized for recreational activities. It is also customary for the coxswain of the victorious crew to be tossed into the river following the competition.
Swimming is allowed upstream from Putney Bridge to Teddington, but it isn’t recommended.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan , has pledged to transform the capital's waterways ‘swimmable by 2034’ .
However, Erica Popplewell, who leads the Communities division at River Action, stated that this notion is 'just an unrealistic hope without comprehensive reforms within the water sector and its regulatory bodies'.
She mentioned that a surveillance system designed to monitor sewage discharge at Kew was non-operational from January 17th. As such, it remains unclear how much sewage the pipeline close to the race finish line might have released during that period.
It has been reported that the surveillance system is operational again.
‘Precautionary measures in place’
The Boat Race stated in a release: "Concerns about water quality persist for the Boat Race."
'We have implemented various preventive steps this year to safeguard the well-being of our athletes.'
'Including advice on how to cover open wounds, frequent hand washing, setting up a cleaning station at the finishing area, and emphasizing the dangers of swimming in the water.'
What is E. coli?
E. coli E. coli, which refers to Escherichia coli, is a kind of bacterium that resides within the intestines of both animals and humans.
Many types of these microorganisms are harmless and actually aid in digestion, yet certain ones can lead to stomach issues along with other health problems like urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and severe conditions including kidney failure.
It can be contracted through various means such as consuming tainted food, ingesting or swimming in polluted water, and coming into contact with infected individuals.
Many individuals who are generally fit can bounce back within a week once they start experiencing abdominal pain, loose stools, and nausea; however, those with compromised immunity, alongside young kids and seniors, face a higher danger.
Thames Water responded
A representative from Thames Water stated, "Rivers are highly changeable ecosystems, with sample readings fluctuating significantly over brief intervals." Interestingly, tests conducted by Fulham Reach Boat Club regarding E. coli have shown results staying within the "excellent" range ever since early March.
'The boating competition course is not designated as a swimming area; therefore, we do not have funding for regular disinfection or sterilisation of the final discharge. Furthermore, since being linked earlier this year, the Thames Tideway Tunnel has stopped 6,376,450 cubic metres of sewage from flowing into the tidal Thames and is expected to decrease the amount of discharged water entering the tidal river annually by around 95%.'
'We have been and continue to provide an unprecedented level of funding to tackle our aging infrastructure and the wellbeing of rivers. This encompasses £1.8 billion aimed at enhancing river health in London over the coming half-decade.'
'We are dedicated to ensuring our waterways flourish, yet we cannot achieve this without help. E. coli may originate from numerous sources such as animal droppings, farm runoff, street drainage, and wastewater. Openness lies at the core of our operations, and we were pioneers among water companies by launching a live data map on our site even before it was legally mandated.'
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