A campaign group has warned visitors of high levels of E. coli at Aysgarth Falls in Leyburn, after reports that several people, and a dog, have fallen ill, with two people requiring hospital treatment.
Stop Ure Pollution, an organisation working to keep the River Ure clean for recreation and wildlife, has been testing the water weekly since May after receiving a grant.
During their latest checks, they issued a “red alert” after finding bacteria levels almost three times above the high-risk threshold.
Using a Bactiquick device, which provides results in just 15 minutes, the group recorded a reading of 154 ERU on Friday (15 August).
Anything above 58 ERU is classed as high risk. Traditional lab tests can take up to five days, meaning the quicker method is particularly useful at busy locations like Aysgarth Falls.
Professor Richard Loukota, who carried out the tests, told YorkMix:
“Since 19 July, eight people have come forward to say they’ve fallen ill after contact with the River Ure, four of them at Aysgarth Falls. One lady ended up with an infected colitis and may face ongoing health problems. Another person was in hospital for five days. A child was also ill for three days with sickness and diarrhoea.”
He stressed he did not want to put people off visiting, but urged caution. The include using hand sanitizer, or washing your hands in the nearby toilets before consuming picnics or ice creams.
“The river looks beautiful and it’s very tempting, but people should be aware. It’s not a case of don’t go, just take sensible precautions.”
Yorkshire Water said pollution in rivers comes from “a variety of sources” and that citizen science projects like this are vital in helping to understand and improve water quality.
A spokesperson said: “We’ve supported Stop Ure Pollution since April 2024 and are working alongside them to identify and tackle the causes of pollution. We are determined to play our part in improving river health and will be investing millions of pounds in 14 storm overflows that discharge into the River Ure over the next five years.
“This is part of a £1.5bn programme across the region to reduce discharges into watercourses. But it is important that all organisations, businesses, and individuals come together to address every source of pollution.”
Stop Ure Pollution’s weekly testing will continue until May 2026. For updates, visit the group’s Facebook page.