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Water Quality
The
water in the Royal Docks, although regularly pumped from the River
Thames in order to maintain levels, is of better quality than
the river water and is consistently independently confirmed as
being suitable for water contact sports.
Environmental
consultants regularly undertake measurements and laboratory analysis
of the water, to check compliance with mandatory and guideline
values set out in The Bathing Water (Classification) Regulations
1991 (Statutory Instrument SI 1991 No. 1597) and European Community
Council Directive concerning the quality of bathing water (76/160/EEC).
The
maintenance of the dock areas includes the routine removal of
litter, debris and flotsam. The water does on occasions suffer
from reduced transparency depth, and has an average pH level of
8.5. The temperature of the water in the upper levels fairly closely
reflects the ambient air temperature, but generally only in the
period mid May to early October does the temperature exceed 15
, below which the risk of hypothermia increases.
The
water areas support a wide variety of aquatic life, including
fish such as grey mullet, tench and pike, sea bass and birds,
including mallard, grebe, moorhen and cormorant.
As
with all open water areas the risk of drowning is ever present.
Unauthorised swimming is forbidden under the byelaws, and only
those water based activities where full supervision and safety
provisions are in place are permitted.
Weil's
disease is a virus infection carried in rats and other rodents
urine which contaminates open water. It is a very rare disease,
with flu like symptoms, and once diagnosed readily cured with
antibiotics. Nonetheless, water users in the Royal Docks are advised
to wash or shower after falling into the water, cover cuts and
scratches with waterproof plaster, not to rub eyes or mouth after
contact with the water, and if flu like symptoms develop after
immersion in the water to tell their doctor and ask for a blood
test.
As
with all open water areas the risk of drowning is ever present.
Unauthorised swimming is forbidden under the byelaws, and only
those water based activities where full supervision and safety
provisions are in place are permitted.
Weil's
disease is a virus infection carried in rats and other rodents
urine which contaminates open water. It is a very rare disease,
with flu like symptoms, and once diagnosed readily cured with
antibiotics. Nonetheless, water users in the Royal Docks are advised
to wash or shower after falling into the water, cover cuts and
scratches with waterproof plaster, not to rub eyes or mouth after
contact with the water, and if flu like symptoms develop after
immersion in the water to tell their doctor and ask for a blood
test.
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