Excess levels of E.Coli bateria present in 1 in 3 Flemish waterways
A study carried out by the not-for-profit organisation Waterland has found that levels of the harmful E.Coli virus are too high in one in three waterways in our region. Waterland tested for E.Coli in rivers, canals, streams, lakes and ponds across the 5 Flemish provinces. Some waterways in the Brussels were also tested.
The water in 1 in 3 watercourses tested contained excess levels of E. Coli bacteria. The results of Waterland’s study form the basis of an article in Friday’s edition of the daily ‘De Standaard’. Waterland coordinator Lieven Symons told VRT News that there is "Enough reason for concern”.
Earlier this month, volunteers took a total of 401 samples from rivers, canals, streams and ponds. Of these tests 385 produced result that were useable for the purposes of the study.
In one third of these more than 2,000 colonies per 100 millilitres of E.Coli virus were found. Meanwhile, in 43% of the samples the authorities’ the safety level for swimming pools (1,000 colonies per 100 millilitres) was exceeded. If concentrations are higher than 1,000 colonies per 100 millilitres children, the elderly and people with lower resistance to infection are advised not to enter the water.
The E. Coli bacteria can get into the water in three ways: via animal manure, from untreated household wastewater or via so-called overflows that allow excess water in sewers to escape to a watercourse during heavy rainfall.
The Flemish wastewater treatment agency Aquafin told ‘De Standaard’ that "there currently is no specific standard for E. coli". The Flemish Environment Agency (VMM) says that E. coli is not the benchmark it uses for assessing water quality. VMM’s Katrien Smet said that "The bacterium is an indicator of bathing water quality".
E. coli is a bacterium that can cause health issues such as abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting or fever.