Cambridge extended their dominant run in the Boat Race 2024 with victory in both the men's and women's showdowns. The men claimed a fifth trophy in six years, while the women won their seventh straight triumph [480f219e].
The women's race started at 2:46pm in sunny conditions. Both crews were issued safety guidance due to high levels of E. coli found along the championship course. Cambridge won both coin tosses and chose different starting points. In the men's race, Cambridge took an early lead but Oxford quickly drew level. Cambridge eventually took a narrow lead and won by more than 10 seconds. The women's race saw Cambridge in the lead throughout, with Oxford falling behind by more than 10 seconds. Cambridge's stroke Matt Edge struggled but his crew rallied around him to secure the victory [480f219e].
Thames Water is facing criticism after a rower from the University of Oxford highlighted the presence of high levels of E. coli in the River Thames during the Boat Race [779a44d2]. The rower stated that the water conditions affected their performance and that it would be better if there wasn't as much fecal matter in the water. Another team member mentioned that several rowers had been ill with stomach bugs during the week leading up to the race. Research conducted by River Action and the Fulham Reach Boat Club found that the water had an average of 2,869 E.coli colony forming units (CFU) per 100ml, exceeding the Environment Agency's quality standards level of below 1,000 CFU per 100ml. The source of pollution is believed to be sewage discharges directly into the river and its tributaries [779a44d2].
In a separate incident, around 2,500 households in Brixham, Devon, are being told by South West Water to continue boiling their tap water before drinking it due to a parasite outbreak [71ab4c7d]. The "boil water" notice will not be lifted until it is deemed safe to do so by South West Water and public health partners. The outbreak is caused by cryptosporidium, a waterborne disease that can cause symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting. As of Friday, there have been 46 confirmed cases. South West Water has already allowed 14,500 households to safely drink tap water again after rigorous testing found no traces of the disease in the Alston water supply. The remaining affected homes are waiting for the Hillhead reservoir to be refilled and its wider network to be flushed. The parasite likely entered the water network through a damaged air pipe in a field containing cattle. The number of confirmed cases is expected to continue rising for up to two more weeks due to the parasite's incubation period. South West Water will provide an additional £100 compensation to affected customers, bringing the total to £215. MP Anthony Mangnall criticized South West Water's response to the outbreak as 'contemptible and just generally incompetent' [71ab4c7d].
Meanwhile, concerns have been raised about the suitability of the River Seine for swimming during the Paris Olympic Games. The river will be a central element of the games, with the opening ceremony taking place on the river and two events, the marathon swimming and the swimming leg of the triathlon, scheduled to be held there. However, pollution levels in the Seine have raised health concerns for athletes. The latest data from the monitoring group (State and City of Paris) showed that the river was suitable for swimming on six of the nine days between June 24 and July 2. The safe limit for Escherichia coli is 900 colony-forming units (cfu) per 100 milliliters, while the threshold for Enterococcus is 330 cfu/100ml. Factors that influence water quality include rainfall, UV index, water temperature, and river flow. The city of Paris has built a storage basin to reduce the risks of pollution. The decision to allow swimming is made by the International Federation involved in the sport, and contingency plans are in place if the water is not suitable for swimming on the day of the competition [2482641a].