DNA-assisted tracking to improve pollution management in recreational waters

During the 2023 bathing season, weekly samples were collected by citizen scientists at two River Wharfe sites: the Cromwheel, the Environment Agency (EA) bathing monitoring site upstream of the Ilkley Sewage Treatment Works (STW), and the Stepping Stones, downstream of the STW. Samples for DNA analysis were taken concurrently with the EA statutory FIB monitoring. The EA measured water physico-chemical parameters and modelled rainfall upstream in the catchment. DNA-based analyses included 16S rRNA sequencing for bacterial characterisation.