LIB DEM DOOCEY TO GRILL WATER COMPANY ON DUMPING OF SEWAGE IN THAMES

12.01.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 14th Sep 2004

Liberal Democrat London Assembly Health Spokesperson, Dee Doocey, will today (Tuesday 10th September 2004) grill Thames Water and the Environment Agency about their inability to cope with the summer storms, which caused a million tonnes of raw sewage to be dumped into the Thames.

Dee Doocey will question why sufficient overflow systems are not in place to prevent the deluge of raw sewage and demand to know what steps will be taken to protect river users and marine life and avoid any future environmental disasters for the Thames. The dumping of raw sewage into the Thames, although not as severe as the August release, occurs on average around once every six days.

Dee Doocey said:

"The dumping of raw sewage into the Thames is something that happened in the Victorian era. It certainly should not be happening in the 21st century in one of the most developed capital city's in the world.

"It is incredible that despite all the predictions that global warming would cause more violent storms and heavier downpours in England, London's sewer system is totally unprepared and unable to cope.

"Thames Water says it cannot find the cash to stop raw sewage being pumped into the river, but they are making massive profits and paying huge salaries to their directors. With water bills expected to rise by about 13per cent above the rate of inflation over the next five years, it is once again the hard-pressed public who are being forced to pay for an appalling service.

"The damage to the reputation of the Thames and the detrimental health effects on those who use and live close to the river are an extremely grave concern. Serious questions must be asked about how this happened and, more importantly, what can be done to make sure nothing like this ever happens again."

Ends

Notes to editor

The London Assembly Health & Public Services Committee meeting attended by Thames Water and will be questioned on its decision to pump thousands of tonnes of raw sewage into the River Thames during early August's torrential rain will be held at City Hall at 10am on Tuesday 14th September 2004