River sewage to be tackled

28 October 2009

RIVER users are set to be alerted when sewage flows into the Thames after the Mayor of London revealed he supported calls for a warning system.

Boris Johnson said the system was needed to notify people using the river whenever there was an overflow of sewage as a result of heavy rain.

He was responding to a question last Thursday by London Assembly Liberal Democrat leader Mike Tuffrey, a long-standing campaigner for a cleaner River Thames.

Every year 32 million cubic metres of untreated sewage, enough to fill the O2 arena 15 times, overflows from London's sewers into the Thames.

Mr Johnson said: "I do support such a warning system. I have already had one of my officers bring this up with Thames Water's senior management, and I understand they also believe it to be a sensible suggestion.

"Details will need to be agreed between Thames Water, the Environment Agency and the London Port Health Authority before it is set up to help river users."

Mr Tuffrey said he "welcomed" the Mayor's response, but called on him to ensure the system was in place as quickly as possible.

He added: "The dumping of untreated sewage in the Thames is associated with the Victorian era but disgracefully it is still happening in the 21st century in one of the most developed capital cities in the world. Such sewage is unsightly for everyone as well as damaging to marine life. However, the problems are most severe for users of the Thames who face bacteria and viruses."

Plans are underway for a Tideway Tunnel to collect sewage before it overflows and to channel it to a treatment plant, but this is not expected to be operational until 2020.

Mr Tuffrey said: "London's sewage system desperately needs increased capacity and the proposed Tideway tunnel is vital.

"However, it will be years before our Victorian sewers are totally upgraded and we end the situation where heavy rain leads to untreated sewage flowing into the River Thames.

"Until then, we should assist rowers, canoeists and other users of the Thames by providing warnings every time untreated sewage pours into the Thames.