Government action agreed after huge E. coli spike in Christchurch Harbour
Bournemouth East MP Tom Hayes has met with the Water Minister following a sharp spike in E. coli levels in Christchurch Harbour
A dramatic spike in E. coli levels in Christchurch Harbour has prompted calls for stronger water monitoring and infrastructure investment, as local organisations warn of the risks to swimmers, rowers and other water users.
The issue was raised in Westminster after Bournemouth East MP Tom Hayes brought together local harbour groups and the Government’s water minister to discuss the contamination.
Regular testing by the Christchurch Harbour and Marine Society (CHAMS) recorded E. coli levels reaching 370,000 colony-forming units (cfu) per 100ml on August 19th. During the equivalent week in 2025, the figure was 4,217 cfu/100ml.
Mr Hayes has written to Prime Minister Andy Burnham calling for systematic testing of recreational waters, arguing that volunteers should not have to discover potentially dangerous pollution before official monitoring identifies it.
“Citizen scientists should not be left alone to discover dangerous levels of faecal bacteria before the authorities do,” he said.
The meeting brought Water Minister Emma Hardy MP and Environment Agency officials together with representatives from Hengistbury Head Outdoors, HENRA, Christchurch Sailing Club, Christchurch Rowing Club, Mudeford Ferry and CHAMS.
Discussions included developing plans for bathing water protection, working with Wessex Water over the location of monitoring buoys and investigating whether planned wastewater infrastructure improvements could be brought forward.
The meeting also agreed that local groups and the Environment Agency should continue working closely on water-quality monitoring and sampling, with another meeting planned to assess progress.
For Christchurch, the issue extends beyond public health. The harbour is central to the area’s visitor economy, attracting people for boating, rowing, walking and other leisure activities.
That footfall supports local businesses and contributes indirectly to council revenues, including income from parking used by visitors arriving in the town and surrounding harbour areas.
Tom Hayes said his thoughts were with people who had become ill and called for stronger monitoring and formal bathing-water protection.
Martin Stewart of CHAMS described the meeting as productive, saying the seriousness of the minister’s response was welcome.
“We now know the issue of the health of Christchurch Harbour is now well on the map in Westminster,” he said. “This is still an early step on the journey, but no one is letting up.”
With the harbour remaining an important draw for residents and visitors, the pressure will now be on government agencies, water companies and local organisations to turn commitments into practical measures.