Urgent E-coli warning issued to Marlborough residents

Floods hit the town of Marlborough in January 2024, several sewer drains overflowed, causing a significant amount of human waste to make its way into the River Kennett.

As the river burst its banks, this contaminated water completely coated Coopers Meadow and nearby riverside areas in the town.

Four months on and Coopers Meadow now appears from the outside to have returned to normal - but Marlborough Town Council is emphasising that this is not the case.

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A message on the council's website reads: "Anything growing there will be contaminated with a serious risk of e-coli.”

The January 2024 floods left Marlborough submerged underwater as rivers, rain water and sewage poured into the town. (Image: SWNS)

It adds: “It has been brought to our attention that people have been foraging wild garlic at Coopers Meadow.

“Coopers Meadow has been flooded with water contaminated with a significant amount of human waste.

“This will be the same for anywhere near the river, including St George's Preshute.”

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E-coli is a type of infection caused by exposure to contaminated food or water and although most healthy adults recover within a week, the infection can lead to life-threatening kidney failure in young children and the elderly.

Common symptoms of the infection include diarrhoea, stomach pain, nausea and vomiting.

Although foraging is legal and common, the Food Standards Agency advises that “food that has been touched or covered by floodwater or sewage should not be eaten".

It also states to “not eat any produce grown on an allotment or garden that has been flooded”.

The urgent message has been given out after locals were discovered foraging wild garlic from the contaminated meadow. (Image: Getty)

The Royal Horticulture Society adds that after flooding, disease spores can remain in the soil for up to two years.

“The following year after flooding, it should be safe to grow crops that are to be cooked,” a spokesperson for the society said.

They added: “But raw food or vegetables should be discarded.”

The town council has also added that excessive wild garlic picking has created large bare patches where the plants may not recover.

The post on the council's website concludes: "As well as the serious risks to health, the result of this activity by a few people means that there is now a large, unsightly, bare patch where the plants may not recover.  

"Please remember that with rights come responsibilities.  We all have a right to enjoy our open spaces.  With that comes a responsibility to abide by any signs or bylaws, as well as to leave the meadow as you find it for the enjoyment of the whole community and to protect our precious environment and biodiversity."