Mayor must ensure there is a sewage discharge warning system for the River Thames - Tuffrey

6.31.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 22nd Oct 2009

Mike Tuffrey, the leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, has persuaded the Mayor to support the establishment of early warning system to alert users of the Thames to the regular discharges of sewage that flow into the river. The Mayor's claim that he supported a scheme came in response to a recent question put to him by Mike Tuffrey, who is a long standing campaigner for a cleaner Thames.

Mike said:

"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. Every year 32 million cubic metres of untreated sewage - enough to fill the 02 arena 15 times - overflows from London's sewers into the River Thames. Such sewage is unsightly for everyone as well as damaging to marine life. However the problems are most severe for users of Thames who face bacteria and viruses.

"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."

"I welcome the Mayor's claim that he now supports a warning system to alert people every time untreated sewage has flowed into the Thames. However it is actions not words that matter. The Mayor must now ensure that a warning system is in place as quickly as possible."

Ends

Notes to editors

A copy of Mike Tuffrey's written question is enclosed:

Sewage discharge warning system

Question No: 2976 / 2009

Mike Tuffrey

I have been contacted by a kayaker who would like Thames Water or the Environment Agency to institute a system of alerts for river users when sewage is discharged into the Thames after heavy rain (especially given that the introduction of a warning system was one of the key steps to be taken following the Health Protection Agency's study published in 2007). Would you support an alert system?

Answer from the Mayor:

Yes, 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 that 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.