Image description: Rowing boats stowed away. Image credit Antonio Babuli/ Pexels.
The iconic Oxford v Cambridge Boat Race took place on Sunday 13 April.
However, pre-race excitement was overshadowed by results from water-quality testing, which revealed levels of E. coli bacteria almost three times above the Environment Agency’s threshold for “poor” bathing waters, along the stretch of the River Thames hosting the race. Organisers therefore encouraged rowers from Oxford and Cambridge to follow British Rowing poor water quality guidance, including not entering the water, covering any blisters and wearing footwear when getting in and out of the boat.
The tests were carried out by Environmental Campaign group River Action, with their warnings backed by rowing Olympic gold-medallist Sir Steve Redgrave: “It’s a real worry that in 2025, unsafe water quality in the Thames is still a concern. Rowers, river users, and the public deserve better.” These tests have notably occurred during a particularly dry spell of weather, and raw sewage discharges from storm overflows are only supposed to take place during exceptional weather, like extreme rainfall or intense storms. Spills of raw sewage during dry weather could be illegal. It also echoes last year’s report of Oxford’s crew members falling ill with stomach bugs prior to race day, when the Thames was similarly revealed to suffer from high levels of E coli.
In response, Thames Water said rivers were “very dynamic environments” and recent tests on E.coli carried out by Fulham Reach Boat Club had shown results “within the ‘excellent’ threshold since the start of March”. Thames Water also said the boat race route was not technically bathing water, meaning it is not funded to routinely disinfect or sterilise the water in the same way.
Meanwhile, in an open letter to the 11 sports National Governing Bodies, that include British Rowing, that make up the Clean Water Sports Alliance, Emma Hardy MP wrote, “Your passion and persistence have helped keep water security and river health on the national agenda, and we value the important role you play in holding governments to account”. The Minister for Water and Flooding went on to say: “We share your commitment. Ensuring clean, secure and sustainable water resources has been one of our top priorities. That’s why we’ve taken decisive action to improve the health of our rivers, lakes and seas, invest in critical water infrastructure, and deliver reforms that put long-term water security and environmental outcomes front and centre”.