General · 30 June 2026
Thames E. coli 60 times safe limit after spill
Campaigners are calling for public control of water companies after E. coli levels in the River Thames reached more than 60 times the safe bathing limit. This surge followed a spill at Fulham Reach on Thursday, which Thames Water confirmed happened during planned maintenance. The reading of 58,000 cfu per 100ml was recorded despite the £4.6bn Tideway Tunnel, built to cut sewage pollution.
Reported by BBC · How we write briefs