As nearly 3,000 young rowers gather for the Schools’ Head of the River Race, all-time Olympic rowing champion Sir Steve Redgrave calls for urgent action to clean up the River Thames. In a letter to Secretary of State for the Environment Steve Reed, Sir Redgrave stresses the need for urgent action to address the river’s pollution.
The letter was delivered to Defra, as schools from across the country gather to take part in the UK’s largest processional rowing race for school-aged participants.
The action is being coordinated by environmental charity River Action, which is leading efforts to protect the river from severe pollution caused by sewage discharges. In the letter, Sir Steve Redgrave calls on the Secretary of State to:
- End pollution for profit by water companies and take firm action to ensure Thames Water cleans up its infrastructure.
- Give environmental regulators the power and tools to do their job so polluters are held to account.
Sir Steve Redgrave said, “This is not just about rowing. It’s about all river users’ public health. It’s about our environment. It’s about the future of one of the world’s most iconic rivers. We won’t sit quietly while this catastrophe continues.”
River campaigners urge rower safety on poor quality water
In response to growing concerns over water quality across Britain’s rivers , British Rowing, River Action, and The Rivers Trust have developed official guidelines to help rowers minimise the risk of illness due to exposure to polluted water.
The ‘Guidance on rowing when water quality is poor’ advises rowers to cover cuts, grazes, and blisters with waterproof dressings, avoid swallowing river water, wear suitable footwear when launching or recovering boats, and thoroughly clean all equipment after use.
Sir Steve Redgrave emphasised the importance of taking protective measures:
“The Schools’ Head of the River Race is a fantastic event, but rowers need to be aware of the serious health risks posed by polluted water. By following these safety guidelines, we can help minimise the risk, but this situation is completely unacceptable. We need urgent action to stop sewage discharges and protect the health of everyone using our rivers.”
Erica Popplewell, River Action’s Head of Communities, added:
“We are thrilled that so many young people are getting out on the water, but their health must not be put at risk. We urge every rower, coach, and participating school to follow our guidance to stay safe. But guidance alone is not enough—we need the Government to take decisive action to clean up the UK’s polluted rivers, and Thames Water must be stopped from polluting for profit.”
Water quality testing
Water quality testing conducted by River Action last year on the stretch of the Thames used for the Boat Race between the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge (also used for the Schools’ Head of the River Race) revealed dangerously high levels of E.coli bacteria caused by sewage pollution.
Tests using a World Health Organization-verified E.coli analyser recorded contamination levels up to ten times higher than the Environment Agency’s threshold for ‘poor’ designated bathing waters—where the Government advises against swimming.
Furthermore, River Action can reveal that in the last 6 months, Thames Water allowed 133 hours of human sewage to enter the section of the Thames used for the Schools Head of the River Race.
River Action continues to call for immediate intervention, including placing Thames Water into special administration, to prevent further environmental damage and protect river users.
