The Environment Agency (EA) has today (Wednesday, 19 August) confirmed the presence of potentially toxic blue-green algae in the River Thames in and around the recently designated bathing spot at Kingston.

Speaking about the issue, Kingston Council said: "To keep everyone safe, we strongly advise residents and visitors to follow these precautions:

• Do not swim, paddle, or enter the water in affected areas until further notice.
• Keep dogs out of the water - blue-green algae is extremely dangerous to pets.
• Avoid contact with visible algae near the riverbank.

"We are working alongside the Environment Agency, who are monitoring the algae, and will share further updates as soon as they are available."

In an Instagram post, local campaign group, Save Our Lands and River (SOLAR) added:"London's new bathing site at Ham & Kingston has been hit with a toxic algae warning.

"With the Hogsmill recently failing its Environment Agency inspection, we should be demanding cleaner water and higher sewage standards. Not allow plans to add millions more litres of treated sewage to the Thames."

And Ian McNuff, founder of SOLAR, told Nub News: "It's deeply concerning, but sadly not surprising, that London's new bathing site at Ham and Kingston has been hit by a toxic algae warning just weeks after opening.

"Toxic algae experiences turbo-charged growth with sewage overflows in warm, sunny conditions – exactly what you'd expect just downstream from the Hogsmill that has failed its recent environment audit."

A Thames Water spokesperson said: "We would like to reassure river users that our proposed Teddington direct river abstraction project would not deteriorate water quality and would be required to meet strict environmental and water quality standards set by the Environment Agency.

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"The new treated water outfall would also be located downstream of the proposed bathing water site, meaning recycled water would flow downstream over Teddington Weir into the tidal Thames."

More information about the issue can be found on the EA's website here.

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