Hever Castle Lake, located in Kent, England, is a popular venue for triathlon events, including the Castle Race Series. The water quality of the lake is crucial for ensuring the safety and health of participants. This blog post will delve into the details of Hever Castle Lake’s water quality, addressing the key concerns and the efforts made to maintain a safe environment for athletes.
Monitoring Water Quality: Compliance with EU Directives
The Castle Race Series conducts thorough water quality tests before each event to ensure compliance with the EU Bathing Water Directives. These tests include monitoring for parameters such as total coliforms, faecal coliforms, salmonella, enteroviruses, pH, colour, mineral oils, surface active substances (detergents), phenols, and transparency.
The lake water quality must meet the mandatory standards set by the EU Bathing Water Directives. These standards include not exceeding values of 10,000 total coliforms per 100ml and 2,000 faecal coliforms per 100ml in 95% of samples.
Incidents and Investigations
Despite the testing, several incidents have been reported where participants have fallen ill after swimming in the lake. These incidents have been linked to water quality issues, including the presence of norovirus and other contaminants.
The Castle Race Series, in collaboration with Hever Castle, Southern Water, and the Environment Agency, has initiated investigations into these incidents to identify the causes and prevent future occurrences. The investigations aim to uncover the sources of the contamination and implement effective measures to safeguard the water quality.
Athlete Feedback and Organiser Response
Many athletes have reported symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting, and stomach cramps after swimming in the lake. Some have described the water as “dreadful” and “like swimming in a massive puddle of ****”.
The Castle Race Series has acknowledged the incidents and expressed regret over the participants’ illnesses. They have emphasized their commitment to maintaining bathing water quality and collaborating with stakeholders to address water pollution issues.
Improvement Efforts
The event organisers have initiated measures to improve water quality testing protocols to ensure the safety of competitors. This includes revising testing procedures and working with local authorities to address water pollution issues.
Some of the specific steps taken by the organisers include:
- Enhancing the frequency and scope of water quality testing, including testing for a wider range of contaminants.
- Implementing real-time monitoring systems to quickly identify and respond to any water quality issues.
- Collaborating with local authorities and environmental agencies to identify and mitigate the sources of pollution in the lake.
- Educating participants on the importance of water quality and the steps they can take to minimize the risk of illness.
Conclusion
Hever Castle Lake is a popular venue for triathlon events, but the water quality has been a source of concern for participants. The Castle Race Series and its partners have taken steps to address these issues, including regular water quality testing, investigations into incidents, and ongoing efforts to improve the overall water quality.
While progress has been made, there is still work to be done to ensure the safety and well-being of athletes competing in events at Hever Castle Lake. The organisers remain committed to this goal and will continue to work with stakeholders to find sustainable solutions.
References:
- https://www.castleraceseries.com/rules-and-regulations/
- https://racecheck.com/races/hever-castle-swim-series/
- https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/oct/01/competitors-report-falling-ill-after-triathlon-event-in-waters-of-river-eden
- https://www.reddit.com/r/triathlon/comments/16rx58d/hever_castle_tri_anyone_else_feeling_ill_the_day/
- https://www.kentonline.co.uk/weald/news/team-gb-athlete-among-swimmers-who-fell-ill-294513/