Community Lab Results

The results of our Community Water Lab will be posted here! For more information about the lab and how you can get involved or get a test done, visit our Community Water Lab page.

E. coli for recreation in inland waters in England is recommended to be less than 1,000 CFU/100mL.
This test also gives us a reading for total coliform, but there are no set recommended levels and so most people should be looking at E. coli.
Our regular tests allow us to test to up to 2,420 CFU/100mL. If we suspect that a sample will be higher than that, we perform a careful dilution with 50% mineral or distilled water (as well as a blank) to allow us to read results up to 4,840 CFU/100mL. In some instances, we dilute to 10% sample with 90% dilutant, allowing us to measure up to 24,200 CFU/100mL.
Each test is collected by, and processed by, volunteers on Friday mornings. We can only process samples that have been sponsored (by community sponsors or through a grant) or purchased (£15/sample, much more affordable than traditional labs).
Water Rangers is providing this information as a service to the community. Our code of conduct does not allow us to take any political stance. Learn more about our code of conduct to understand why.

Help us test regularly!

We need help to monitor these locations (and others) every week! Learn more about how you, your local councillor, or a local business can help us test!

Latest Results: 20th July 2024

Previous Weeks’ Results:

4th May 2024 – Initial results from the Lab :

All read over 2419.6CFU/100mL for total coliforms.

For E. coli, Shalford Mill read 770CFU/100mL. Peperharrow and Downstream of Slyfield read 2419.6CFU/100mL. The rest of the samples all read as greater than 2419.6 CFU/100mL. For reference, for recreation, levels should be below 1,000 CFU/100mL.

Individual location results:

Byfleet: https://app.waterrangers.ca/observations/72433
Stoke Lock Pontoon: https://app.waterrangers.ca/observations/72430
St Catherines swimming spot: https://app.waterrangers.ca/observations/72432
Peperharrow swimming spot, by fish bypass: https://app.waterrangers.ca/observations/72431
Rowing Club: https://app.waterrangers.ca/observations/72428
Lock Stock Pontoon: https://app.waterrangers.ca/observations/72430
Downstream of Slyfield Treatment Works: https://app.waterrangers.ca/observations/72429
Shalford Mill: https://app.waterrangers.ca/observations/72427
Downstream of Godalming TW: https://app.waterrangers.ca/observations/72436
Upstream Godalming TW: https://app.waterrangers.ca/observations/72449

Next week, we’re recommending a 50% dilution on all samples as well as sample locations in Bordon, Liphook, and Haslemere.

This monitoring was supported by a grant from Godalming Town Council.

Thank you!

Special thanks to this week's sponsor, Godalming Town Council. This lab also wouldn't be possible without the generosity of the River Wey Trust, ZERO Guildford, and the University of Surrey.