E-Coli Bacteria For 2025 Aquatic World Championships In Singapore Postponed

JAKARTA - The 2025 Aquatic World Championship, which was held in Sentosa, Singapore, had to be postponed because the Escherichia coli or E. coli bacteria at the championship location were above reasonable limits.

In fact, the 2025 Aquatic World Championships will take place from July 11 to August 3, 2025. However, after several days of being held, the tournament had to be postponed Tuesday, July 15, 2025.

The Executive Director of the World Aquatic Federation or World Aquatics, Brent Nowicki, said the decision was taken because of E. coli bacterial levels that exceed acceptable standards.

Regarding the cause of the increase in bacterial levels at the competition location, Nowicki said this could not be ascertained.

When he spoke with the media at the Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay after water testing on Sunday, July 13, 2025, Nowicki only said that the test results could only be announced the day after.

"The test shows E-Coli levels exceeding normal limits. We don't know why this happened because the tests done so far were very good and solid."

"I speculate, but it appears that this is a single and isolated incident that occurred around Saturday, July 12, 2025, or Sunday (July 13, 2025) which caused a spike in cases before the test was carried out," Nowicki was quoted as saying by Channel News Asia on Tuesday, July 15, 2025.

E. coli is a bacteria commonly found in the human and animal intestines, and can enter when there is cross-contamination during the production process.

Although most species are harmless, some of these bacteria cause diarrhea, stomach pain, cramps, and fever.

Water testing was carried out again on Tuesday, July 15, 2025. If the results are acceptable, the Aquatic World Championships will resume on Wednesday, July 16, 2025.

"In our schedule, there are several possibilities that have been set that take into account the possibility of something happening in the course of the activity."

"This is just one of the things that might happen, it is a risk we have to take."

"We are ready to accept that risk and continue the event, test water, make sure it meets our standards, and we believe the water quality will return to an acceptable level (and) the competition will continue," Nowicki said.

Meanwhile, in a press statement on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, early in the morning local time, World Aquatics announced the postponement was for the sake of the athlete's safety.

The race, which is scheduled for Tuesday at 08.00 local time, is rescheduled for Wednesday at 10.15 local time.