Deadly bacteria found in UK floodwaters as experts fear 'risk to human life'

30 January 2024 , 20:08

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Floods in York where water was found to contain high levels of nasty bacteria which can cause severe illnesses (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

A grim bacteria which could pose a risk to human life has been discovered in three spots across the UK.

Samples collected from floods revealed high levels of E.coli and clostridia, which can cause nasty illnesses and indicate the presence of poo in the water. Ammonia was also found in the three locations tested, which can be extremely harmful if ingested.

The tests were carried out after the UK was lashed with a deluge of rain across several named storms in recent weeks, from Storms Babet and Ciaran in autumn which saw multiple communities devastated by floods, to more recent Storm Henk which led to power outages and homes destroyed. Climate change group Round Our Way collected samples in three spots in completely different parts of the country to see what floodwaters contained - and the results were unsavoury.

Water was collected from a children's playground by the River Severn in Shrewsbury, a housing estate near the River Mole in Surrey and the River Ouse in York. The samples were sent to labs for testing before the results were shared with ITV News.

According to the organisation, 6.1mg of ammonia per litre was present in the floodwater collected from Surrey - far exceeding levels deemed safe. Just 0.1 mg/L of the compound were found in in both Shrewsbury and York, although this was still above what's considered a 'safe' level.

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Samples were collected from floodwater which came from the River Severn in Shrewsbury as well as two other flood-hit spots (Darren Quinton/Birmingham Live)

Ammonia in river water can indicate pollution, the Environment Agency claims. It often comes from sewage plants as well as running into rivers from farms using agricultural fertilisers. E.coli levels were also high in Surrey, at 1,080,000 cfu (colony forming units) per 100ml, compared to a “satisfactory” level of 900 cfu/100ml or less.

In Shrewsbury, bacteria levels reached 1,240,000 cfu/100ml and in York they were 570,000 cfu/100ml. Dr Gillian Orrow, a GP, told ITV the bacteria from the lab results could cause 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."

Round Our Way carried out the tests as part of their work supporting people affected by climate change, such as the more adverse weather incidents. They said their findings showed that risks from flooding went far beyond the damage caused to homes and infrastructure, exposing people to “disgusting filth and germs”.

Director Roger Harding said illnesses from flooding could become more of a likelihood amidst more storms, creating more risk of people “getting really ill.”

Susie Beever