Experts at Bournemouth University have been helping to assess the quality of the water in Poole, supporting a request from Poole MP Neil Duncan-Jordan.

Daniel Franklin and Magda Barrow met Neil Duncan-Jordan MP at Poole Quay to discuss water quality and how it is monitored, taking samples of the water for testing in the laboratory.

The Poole MP then visited the labs on BU's Talbot Campus to find out more about assessing the quality of water, how to test water for pollutants, and the markers to look for.

Duncan-Jordan is often contacted by residents concerned about water quality for swimming and enjoying Poole's award-winning beaches and natural harbour, with Bournemouth University supporting the local MP in understanding current water quality. The team are looking for markers such as bacteria or nitrates, which could be signs of waste in the water, or agricultural run-off from surrounding land, all of which could affect the quality of the water.

Dr Daniel Franklin is Associate Professor in Environmental Sciences at Bournemouth University, and said, "Understanding the long-standing water quality issues in Poole Harbour is very important for many Poole residents and Neil was keen to learn more about what data are collected and how these data are used to inform the environmental management of Poole Harbour. We hope that ongoing work in this area will continue to shine a light on the issues and thereby lead to better management and a cleaner and safer harbour."

Duncan-Jordan, a BU journalism graduate, won the Poole seat for Labour in the 2024 election.

For more information about the work Bournemouth University does to protect and preserve a sustainable environment, visit: https://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/why-bu/learn-change/helping-protect-preserve-sustainable-environment