Calls have been made to clean up a Cumbrian river used for swimming and sport.
Trained volunteers have been testing the River Kent between February and September and samples sent to an accredited laboratory.
Over 100 people were testing for E coli and Enterococcus spp at six locations – and the results show that water quality has been rated as poor, due to high levels of both faecal bacterial pathogens.
Testing was co-ordinated by the Clean River Kent Group which says the findings need to be acted on immediately.
It said it was the first time ever that any systematic information had been made available about the levels of faecal contamination in the water.
A spokesman said: “Results were particularly bad at the location immediately downstream of Staveley Wastewater Treatment Works.
“We call on United Utilities and its regulators – the Environment Agency and Ofwat – to respond to our request for action.
“We call on local organisations and policy makers to act together as a matter of urgency, to hold those responsible to account, and to work with us to clean up the river.”
The group has applied to the Government for bathing water status for a stretch of the River Kent, which it said would make sure there was regular water quality monitoring by the Environment Agency.
United Utilities said it welcomed the report and supported the group’s bathing water status bid.
Volunteers tested the River Kent at Staveley, Beckmickle Ing, Burneside, Kendal (Sandy Bottoms – Dockray Hall Bridge), Hawes Bridge and Sedgwick.
All are used regularly for swimming, watersports, angling and in summer families spend time on the banks of the river picnicking and paddling.
However, although the tests found that the water does not meet the standards of bathing water quality as set out by the Government, because it does not have that official designation, it does not have to.
The group claimed that United Utilities was unable to provide the group with information about the frequency and duration of spills at the waste water treatment works, which it said it found worrying.
Another local study by Staveley with Ings Parish Council claimed untreated sewage was discharged into the river regularly.
The United Utilities spokesman added: “Our treatment works at Staveley operates according to its environmental permit and it is not required to remove bacteria.
“We work closely with the South Cumbria Rivers Trust which has produced a report looking at all the factors that affect the quality of the River Kent.
“While wastewater is a factor, grazing animals, mining and private septic tanks are all sources of pollution which have an impact along the river.
“We are committed to working in partnership with others across the whole river catchment to help improve river water quality.”
Tim Farron, Westmorland and Lonsdale MP, said: “The data collected doesn’t surprise me at all. For years now, due to underinvestment in infrastructure, residents in Staveley have suffered from raw sewage regularly overflowing onto their streets as well as into the river.
“An FOI request by local people in 2021 disclosed that there had been an ’emergency’ discharge of untreated effluent 1,000 times during 2019 to 2021 directly into the River Kent from the Staveley sewage treatment works – an average of once a day.
“These new results should be used to hold the responsible polluters to account.”
Carole Wood, a member of the Clean River Kent group, said: “The River Kent is a unique river that has almost every designation possible – it is a national Site of Special Scientific Interest and an international Special Area of Conservation due to the presence of certain species including the white-clawed crayfish, bullhead and freshwater pearl mussel.
“It runs through the Lake District National Park with UNESCO World Heritage Site and is cherished by local people and used for a wide range of recreational activities including world-class kayaking.”
“However, despite all these designations it is still polluted. It is vitally important that our local river is cleaned up to protect this internationally significant environment for the future, for both the health of our communities and also to protect wildlife and biodiversity.”
Arthur Capstick, Staveley parish councillor, added: “The parish council continues to be in discussions with United Utilities about the adequacy of the sewage treatment works but has not yet received any guarantee of improvement. “
“From regular observations made this year by local volunteers on behalf of the parish council, it is now clear that untreated or partly treated sewage is repeatedly discharged from the site directly into the River Kent.
“This combined and growing body of evidence from the community must now further the case for urgent investment and improvement.”
Clean River Kent Campaign said it will begin fundraising in the new year to carry out further monitoring of the river.
