WILD swimmers have launched a bid for bathing water status to ensure their rivers are kept safe and clean.

Mermaids Against Sewage is using its Safe Water In Manningtree (SWIM) campaign to include all water users in the process of achieving bathing water status for the River Stour.

The group believes bathing water status is vital as Dedham is the only area with a monitored sewer outflow, with Manningtree and Brantham being unregulated.

Helen Whitehead, campaigner at Mermaids Against Sewage, said: “Surfers Against Sewage contacted us after our protest last April.

“Their goal is to get is to get 200 designated bathing water areas approved by 2030.

“For us, we need to send the application to Defra by October and will know by February if our status has been approved.”

Bathing water status means testing on a weekly basis for human health concerns like E. coli and other bacteria.

The tests are conducted during bathing water season which is between May and September.

Following the first year of approval a test is conducted to see if the water quality is sufficient, from then onwards weekly data should be provided on water quality.

Tests conducted by the Rivers Trust of the monitored outflow in Dedham revealed sewage was released through a combines sewage overflow pipe near the town 66 times last year for a total of 1,248 hours.

With Manningtree and Brantham being unregulated, the figures could be much worse for these areas.

Water users have reported eye and ear infections, urinary tract infections and stomach bugs after being in the river.

Previous samples taken in Manningtree recorded an E. coli count of 1000cfu per 100 millilitres with an acceptable number being less than 500cfu per 100 millilitres.

A spokesman for Anglian Water said: “Between 2020 and 2025, we're reinvesting more than £200 million to reduce storm spills across the East of England as part of our Get River Positive commitment that neither storm overflows or our assets will not be the reason for unhealthy watercourses by 2030.

“We're already working alongside community groups on several rivers in our region who are keen to apply for bathing designations, to help them monitor local water quality and understand other factors which contribute to river health.”