A Drinkable Thames

In late November, 6 local Mayors met on board Thames Venturer for the first meeting of Mayors for a Drinkable Thames, an action group focusing on water quality. The Mayors all have a stretch of river between Runnymede and Hounslow and are keen to support their local communities to continue using the Thames, in a safe way.

Attendees also included representatives of the River Users Group, Water Rangers and local water sports clubs who are all invested in an effective long-term water-testing programme. Testing for dangerous bacteria such as E. coli, and sharing the data, would allow river users to make informed decisions about the risks of water-based activities.

The initial meeting offered fantastic insight into testing methods and allowed the group members to decide on action points for the coming months.

The RTBP team members in attendance found the meeting incredibly insightful and productive, and we hope to be able to report on the progress of the group as we play host for future meetings.