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22
Sept
'Surprising' new tests find Oak Beck in 'good ecological condition'
Oak Beck in Harrogate is now in "good ecological condition", new chemical testing has found.
The results have surprised ecologists and campaigners, who have been working to monitor and improve water quality in the beck ever since catastrophic pollution killed almost all its aquatic life four years ago.
The survey was carried out yesterday (Monday, September 21) afternoon by Bilton Conservation Group as part of the FreshWater Watch citizen science programme coordinated by Earthwatch Europe.
The samples revealed a nitrate concentration of 0.5 mg/L and a phosphate concentration of 0.02 mg/L – both very low.
Mayfly nymphs were also found, indicating a "biologically active freshwater habitat".
Oak Beck's results were at the lower – paler pink – end of the spectrum.
In its assessment of the readings, FreshWater Watch stated:
Overall, the results indicate that Oak Beck was in good ecological condition during the survey period, with favourable physical habitat characteristics, low nutrient concentrations, and evidence of pollution-sensitive aquatic invertebrates.
Bilton Conservation Group chair Keith Wilkinson, who carried out the testing, told the Stray Ferret the figures were "very encouraging", adding:
I was very surprised, and quite gratified by the results. When I took the samples from the beck, they came up full of mayfly larvae, and they're super-sensitive to pollution, so that's great.
In terms of fish life, Oak Beck is brilliant now. There are fish up to seven inches long, and the bottom living-species such as bullheads and stone loach are there too – not in great numbers, but they're there.
The herons and kingfishers are back, and they wouldn't be without the fish. Once the dippers return, we'll know we've cracked it.
Photo: Julie Valentine.
Catastrophic pollution
It has taken three or four years for the beck to recover from what Mr Wilkinson calls a "triple whammy" of pollution between 2022 and 2023.
First, contractors redeveloping the New Park gasworks site discharged the old 'liquor' – a highly toxic, alkaline liquid full of ammonia – directly into the beck instead of disposing of it safely, then a backlog of raw sewage was released into the water, and finally, the rules on slurry spreading were relaxed, resulting in more harmful farm run-off entering the river system.
Oak Beck was effectively turned into a dead river, and as a result, Bilton Conservation Group has focused much of its attention on monitoring water quality and working towards the beck's recovery.
One of the many fish killed by the pollution incident in 2022.
Regular testing
The group now routinely takes water samples from Oak Beck at four sites: the Hydro, just behind Pets at Home, Spruisty Bridge at Knox, and the beck's confluence with the River Nidd.
It tests for heavy metals, ammonia, phosphates, nitrates, and harmful faecal coliform and E. Coli bacteria, as well as carrying out DNA testing periodically to determine which fish species are present.
Keith Wilkinson MBE preparing a syringe to process a sample of river water from Oak Beck, at the ford below Spruisty Bridge, to test it for fish DNA.
Mr Wilkinson said:
We're not out of the woods yet, but it's looking pretty good. Yorkshire Water are investing in equipment to remove more phosphates from treated sewage effluent, and that should contribute substantially.
But he also sounded a note of caution, and said the work was far from over:
For now, our focus remains E. coli. Recent testing has found readings of around 2,000 CFUs [colony-forming units] of E. coli, but until you get below 900 CFUs, it's not safe to bathe, and you also need to keep your dogs out of the water.
So, we'll keep on testing and see what we find.
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