Scientists have developed an early warning system that can detect one of the biggest menaces to Britain’s rivers.
Sewage fungus is triggered by pollution and takes the form of slimy filaments of bacteria and other micro-organisms. These masses can often be seen clinging to river beds and can choke river ecosystems.
Developed by researchers from the University of Oxford, the artificial intelligence system analyses river water samples and is calibrated to detect even very tiny filaments of sewage fungus – pieces too small to be seen by eye – before they became visible.
The system was used to search for fungus in 11 rivers. The scientists say that their results point to water company sewage outlets being the main cause of outbreaks, rather than pollution from farming, though this may also play a part.
The research, published in the journal Global Change Biology, found that levels of sewage pollution in a river were the best predictor of how much fungus would appear. Agricultural pollution, which is often blamed for the fungus, was not as closely linked.