Safety of the River Char in Charmouth

Information from River Char Action Group

Safety of the River Char in Charmouth

Levels of E. coli at the mouth of the River Char (footbridge) in mid July were:

• Nearly four times higher than the official "fail" threshold for “sufficient” or minimum safety standards in UK inland bathing waters.
• Far above levels considered “safe” for swimming or any full-body contact activity.

What This Means for Swimmers

• Swimming in water with E. coli at this concentration is not safe.
• There is a heightened risk of gastrointestinal disease, ear, nose, throat, skin, and respiratory infections after contact.
• Those most at risk: children, the elderly, anyone with a weakened immune system.

Health Risks

Symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach upsets, fever, skin/eye infections.

What to Do

Adhere to the signage adjacent to the bridge and do NOT swim in the river.

What’s the cause?

E. coli levels upstream and on the Monkton Wyld Stream were far lower, so this is the result of pollution entering the River Char somewhere between Whitchurch Canonicorum and the footbridge. It almost certainly does not come from Wessex Water’s Sewage Treatment Plant or other assets. Levels like this are common after heavy rain but very rare in a prolonged dry spell. Investigations are ongoing.