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Image by Niklas Weiss

6th May 2025 Environment Monitoring Results

  • Writer: Deben Climate Centre
    Deben Climate Centre
  • Jun 1
  • 2 min read

Our Deben Climate Centre volunteer sampling teams were busy again earlier in May. With the dry and sunny weather up until a week or so ago some sections of the river were static and in places completely dry.  E.coli levels are much the same as in previous months but phosphate and nitrate levels continue to be lower, probably down to the lack of run-off from agricultural sources given the lack of water in ditches and feeder streams.


1. E.coli - we found the usual pattern of very high E.coli at the Anglian Water sewage works outfalls and just below these. In many other locations, particularly in the tidal estuary and above Easton E.coli levels were minimal. At Debenham, low river levels contributed to some hotspots where usually there is little or no evidence of E.coli pollution.

Map of environmental monitoring results for E.coli along the River Deben. Results are represented by dots - they are largely green with a few red and orange indicating largely safe bathing waters (9 or fewer colonies per 1ml).
River Deben E.coli Map - 6th May 2025
Map of environmental monitoring results for E.coli along the river through Debenham. Results are represented by stars - 6 are blank indicating water too low to sample, 4 are orange, and 6 are green indicating safe bathing waters (9 or fewer colonies per 1ml).
Debenham E.coli Map - 6th May 2025

2. Phosphate - the phosphate results are broadly similar to those in March/ April, with low levels for the vast majority of sampling points. 

As usual the Rendelsham STW continues to emit high phosphate levels (5.02 mg/litre) and even 500 metres downstream at Naunton Meadow, the concentration are still very high (1.11 mg/litre). These compare badly with the Natural England “healthy river” target of 0.1 mg/litre. The River Fynn Henley sample taken close to the STW outfall was even worse at 7.44 mg/litre. 

We have had some welcome news about the Rendlesham phosphate situation. Following a meeting between senior Anglian Water management, the local landowner and representatives from the Deben Climate Centre and River Deben Association, we have been given a commitment that the Rendlesham phosphate stripping investment will be brought forward into the “first tranche for installation planning”. This means that instead of a the March 2027 permit date, we can expect the investment in this 2025/26 financial year. 

Map of environmental monitoring results for Phosphate along the River Deben. Results are represented by dots - around half are green (indicating less than 0.1 mg/litre of Phosphate and a "healthy river" accoring to Natural England), and half are red or orange. These red and orange dots are largely present along the river Fynn, and around Rendlesham.
River Deben Phosphate Map - 6th May 2025
Map of environmental monitoring results for Phosphate around Debenham. Results are represented by dots - 6 are blank with water too low to take a sample, 5 are green (indicating less than 0.1 mg/litre of Phosphate and a "healthy river" accoring to Natural England), and 5 are orange.
Debenham Phosphate Map - 6th May 2025

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