Swimming in rivers: how dangerous is it?

Conservation experts The Rivers Trust report that only 14% of rivers pass good ecological health, while no rivers pass good chemical or overall health. We asked The Rivers Trust – is it really that bad to swim in a river?

We are often asked whether we encourage swimming in rivers. We spend a lot of time highlighting the problems rivers are facing so it may seem contradictory to also support people swimming in them. 

As a science and data-driven charity, we won’t shy away from the facts and we want the facts to be available for all to see. Currently, not one of our rivers in England or Northern Ireland is in good overall health. A cocktail of pollution from agriculture, chemicals, road run-off, plastics and, of course, treated and untreated sewage, as well as pressure from over-abstraction and physical modifications, is causing rivers to suffer from what we often refer to as death by a thousand cuts. Not only have these issues contributed to a severe decline in freshwater species, but they also present risks to the health of river users.

Even within our team, we have people who spend their days crunching data on river pollution or analysing government environmental policy, only to head straight to the water to unwind at the end of the day. We support swimming outdoors because we have first-hand experience of its incredible health and wellbeing benefits. We are passionate about rivers and think people should be able to enjoy them safely and responsibly. That being said, it is sensible to worry about water quality when we plan a swim. We want people to understand the risks associated with swimming outdoors and use the information available to reduce them.

River swimming: how to assess the risks

Luckily, anyone reading this article will be used to managing swimming risks – it is all part of the adventure. Every time you go in the water you have to consider weather conditions, currents, water temperature, wildlife and other water users in the vicinity, and more. Swimmers can approach the risks associated with pollution in the same way, and The Rivers Trust can support them in doing so. Our website is full of resources, including maps showing how healthy rivers and watercourses are and where pollution hotspots might be. We encourage anyone who wants to swim in a river to explore those maps, to help make an informed decision about when and where they swim. Readers will also be aware that outdoor swimming has an amazing community, and word of mouth is a vital tool to seek out the best sites for swimming, or those that might be best avoided.

Of course, the task of choosing a safe swim spot would be made easier if there were more designated bathing water sites in rivers which were comprehensively monitored. We still only have a handful of these and, while designation is no silver bullet for river health, it does act as a catalyst for improvement. That’s why we’re working with groups across the country to support more applications for designated river bathing sites. We have a vision of wild, healthy, natural rivers, valued by all. When rivers thrive, so do communities, and swimming is a huge part of that. Our relationship with Outdoor Swimmer magazine and its readers can help to transform our waterways and allow more people to enjoy swimming and be safe in rivers.

FIVE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP OUR RIVERS

It’s easy to feel daunted reading about the challenges facing our rivers. It’s true that we won’t be able to restore them to good health without input from governments, water companies and industry, but there are also small, simple ways that we can all make a difference.

Watch what you flush

One of the biggest risks to our sewerage system and horrible when they get into the river are wet wipes and sanitary items. If you use them choose plastic free and never flush them down the loo. The only things that should go down the pan are pee, poo and paper. Wet wipes, sanitary items, medicines etc. should all be disposed of through other responsible routes.

Water saving at home

Britain has one of the highest water consumption rates in Europe, with the average person using nearly 150 litres every day. Simple measures such as turning the taps and showers off when they are not directly in use, fixing dripping taps, thinking about how often clothes need washing and waiting until you have a full load will ease the pressure on abstractions from our rivers and groundwaters.

Water-wise gardening

Whether you’ve got a luscious lawn surrounded by blooms or a neat row of houseplants along the windowsill, anyone can embrace nature-based solutions in their garden. Planting native, climate-resilient plants and increasing water retention by preserving permeable surfaces will help to make the garden more resilient to extreme weather, as well as reducing the risk of flooding and storm overflow sewage discharges. You could even build a simple rain garden or pond to retain more water and create wildlife habitats.

Cut the chemical cocktail

Not one of our rivers is in good chemical health and the toxic cocktail of chemicals we use in our homes and gardens are not removed by sewage treatment. Have a look at products you use to clean yourself, your house and your clothes and try to eliminate any that have hazard symbols or say they are harmful to aquatic life. Dispose of any unused medicines responsibly not down your drains. Also, if you have dogs, keep them away from the river after you apply flea treatments – the fish will thank you!

Don’t ignore invasives

This last point is especially important for swimmers. Invasive non-native species such as Himalayan balsam or Japanese knotweed can be extremely disruptive to river ecosystems. To help stop their spread, make sure you check, clean and dry yourself and your swim equipment after every swim.

Find out more on The Rivers Trust website. Photos:  Roger Taylor Photography; Bruno Teves Visuals