A sign with an expletive has appeared near Martlesham Creek following a failed bid for bathing water status and allegations of high levels of E. coli being found in five places.
The sign says, in a tongue-in-cheek manner, that it is sponsored by Suffolk Coastal MP Therese Coffey, who is the Environment Secretary.
Erection of the sign follows testing conducted by Eamonn O'Nolan, a representative of the Woodbridge Climate Action Centre and a former Woodbridge mayor, who found high levels of E.coli in five places.
Dr Coffey said: "Improving the water quality in our rivers and sea in Suffolk is really important to me.
"That is why I am pleased about the consistently excellent ratings of the beaches in Felixstowe, and why I intervened with Anglian Water to improve Southwold Denes beach quality.
"Martlesham Creek is not bathing water and I do not know the validity of these samples.
"If the constitutent wants to contact me with the details, I can follow up with the Environment Agency directly."
A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokesman said that sewage being discharged into rivers is "unacceptable," pointing out that it has placed the "strictest targest ever" on water companies.
The spokesman added that an estimated £56billion in capital investment over the next 25 years will aim to reduce sewage discharges.
Mr O'Nolan said that, while he did not put the sign up, he was "not remotely surprised" that it had appeared, adding: "There's a lot of strong feeling around the town about the river."
An Anglian Water spokesman said that while it was aware of concerns about the presence of E. coli in rivers, it is "impossible" to comment on the validity of Mr O'Nolan's water quality testing.
They added: "Largely these tests aren't very representative, as they don't have the right controls in place.
"Without knowing their methodology, it's hard to know how accurate they are."
Mr O'Nolan said that he used a 3M product and said that, while he accepts that he does not operate a laboratory, "the test does not lie".
"I know where they're coming from, but they can't deny that the E.coli is there, so we need them to stop putting the sewage into the river," he added.
"It's completely socially unacceptable to still be doing what they're doing in 2023."
As part of its Get River Positive commitment, Anglian Water says it will be launching a community fund to equip local river groups with the right sampling equipment and knowledge to collect water quality data in a "useful" way.
An Environment Agency spokesman added: "Current regulations for rivers and open waters in England protect wildlife and are not designed for the protection of human health."
They went on to say that they monitor E. coli levels in places with designated bathing water status.
While a bid for this status for part of the River Deben at Waldringfield is currently in the consultation process, the bid for a section of the river in Woodbridge failed earlier this month.
Despite the fact that the application included 1158 pledges of support, as well as letters from multiple councils, Anglian Water and the National Trust, the number of swimmers already using the river was deemed to be too low.
Co-founder of Save the Deben river group Ruth Leach said: "I didn't do the sign, I'm not mischevious enough, but it does give publicity to our campaign.
"While we have been sold up the creek, we're not up the creek without a paddle.
"We have plenty of support and we're going to submit the application again."
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