Water testing pilot at wild swimming site

Water quality at a popular wild swimming spot in Shropshire will be monitored by a new £25,000 project.

The Environment Agency (EA), with funding from the River Severn Partnership Advanced Wireless Innovation Region, has installed high-tech sensors in the River Teme at the Linney Riverside Park, Ludlow.

The trial, lasting two months, will provide daily remote readings. Previously, water quality was manually checked once per week.

"Ludlow Town Council are delighted that our town has been chosen for this pilot scheme," said mayor, Councillor Beverley Waite.

"The extra data collected will increase the Environment Agencies understanding of what's happening in our river."

She added that she hoped the scheme would continue after the initial two-month period.

The sensors will also collect rainfall and other environmental data to help experts understand what affects bacteria levels.

Shropshire Council's Ian Nellins said: "With the rise in wild swimming, this is an important step in helping people make informed decisions about when and where to swim."

The area is a designated bathing site and tests in September 2024 found high levels of E. coli in the river.

At the time, the EA said the results could be due to the weather, with the testing coinciding with the second wettest day for Shropshire on record "with 30ml of rainfall received in two hours".

In October 2024, people were advised to stay out of the River Teme, after a local ranger was concerned that manure could be affecting the water quality.

In November, the agency said it had traced the source of pollution to a farm at Priors Halton, upstream from the town.

The EA issued the landowner with a warning letter and said it was working with them to stop any further pollution.

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