The River Thames has been polluted by over 72 billion litres of sewage since 2020.
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Water companies are once again being accused of failing to meet environmental targets, as the UK’s water systems continue to deteriorate. A severe reduction in biodiversity and an increased presence of “forever chemicals” are just two of the threats highlighted.
Ofwat has issued a record £158 million rebate for UK water companies.
One government report stated. “In England rivers are a mess. A ‘chemical cocktail’ of sewage, agricultural waste, and plastic is polluting the waters of many of the country’s rivers”.
On 12 October the Labour Government passed its 100-day milestone. It now faces nationwide scrutiny as the UK reflects on which election promises it is on track to keep. The party website sets out multiple aims, as part of its “10 Labour policies to change Britain”.
“Stop water bosses’ bonuses when their companies harm the environment…allow the regulator to pursue criminal charges against water bosses”.
City News approached Ofwat for comment on whether criminal charges would be brought after the latest round of fines. They said, “5-year targets end in April 2025 so companies have a way to go to meet them, and it is true to say that they have fallen back on several key targets including pollution incidents and internal sewer flooding”.
London’s polluted water is largely due to the mixing of rainwater and sewage. Of the 41 river bodies only one is classed as being in “good” condition. Recent investigations have found that not only is the city experiencing a major ecological disaster but a potential health hazard.
The ecological threat to London’s rivers has been widely publicised. Industrial chemicals, fertilisers, and raw and treated sewage all contribute to the reduction of river biodiversity.
But what about the effect on humans?
A recent report published by Bluewater, a water purification firm, has shown that parts of the Thames contain Perfluorooctanoic Acid and Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid, also known as forever chemicals.
These chemicals have been linked to health issues like cancer, liver damage, reduced fertility and birth defects. Samples of tap water were taken from Harrow, Heathrow and Battersea. The level of harmful PFAs detected in all the samples exceeded Sweden’s regularity limits by 550 per cent.
The reports do not currently indicate a major threat to human life. London’s water undergoes rigorous testing and cleaning before being turned into potable water and the long-term effect of forever chemicals is still being studied.
This report, in combination with research by the Royal Society of Chemistry suggests that “the existing regulatory infrastructure in the UK as not fit for purpose”.
Increased rainfall, linked to climate change, and an increasing population could mean the capital’s Victorian sewer system, which was designed for a population of 4 million, is not capable of protecting people or the environment from increasingly harmful water.
Henley-on-Thames, England. Britain has become notorious as a place where a casual swim could lead to an extended visit to the hospital. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
City News spoke to Theo Thomas from the London Water Keeper, a lobby group that monitors London’s waterways. Mr Thomas warned that water companies, often owned by foreign investors, are not transparent enough when it comes to outlining their practices.
He said Thames Water has only mapped out around 60% of its sewer network in London, with other companies in a similar situation. As a result, they do not know where a large proportion of their waste is being pumped.
He believes that such large gaps in organisational data will continue to hold back the water companies from upgrading infrastructure and creating long term solutions to issues such as sewage overflow during heavy rain.
London Water Keeper advocate for the use of green spaces to help absorb excess rainfall. This is a method Mr Thomas believes should be central to companies’ efforts to keep London’s water clean. Instead, Mr Thomas says, water companies continue to build inefficient concrete containers or practice the dumping of untreated sewage into rivers when the weather becomes unmanageable.
One example of the damaging approach can be seen in an ambitious plan unveiled by the Mayor of London last month. Sadiq Khan set out a proposal to clean a stretch of water in Teddington, southwest London. The goal, which is set over 10 years, is to turn this stretch into a designated swimming spot.
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed. (AP Photo/Thomas Krych)London Mayor Sadiq Khan. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Yet within a couple of weeks, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed gave the green light to a plan by Thames Water to pump 75m litres a day of effluent sewage water into the same spot.
City News contacted the Mayor’s office, Defra and Ofwat for comment. It received this response from the water regulator:
‘The discharge of recycled water from Teddington when the scheme is operational would not deteriorate water quality…If Teddington DRA became operational, regular monitoring of the water quality of the discharge would be undertaken to ensure it meets the strict requirements…’
The Mayor’s office and Defra did not respond.
City News also spoke to members of the local community in Teddington.
Laura, who works for the Thames Boat Project by Teddington Lock, said she would never swim in the Thames due to the pollution. She said she had little faith in promises made by Thames Water at their open community consultation evenings and the water companies “should be nationalised so that they can’t hide anymore…”
Fabienne, who has lived on a houseboat for over two years and recently moored near Teddington, was less concerned by the pollution but was alarmed by forever chemicals. He believed PFAs were a “growing scandal” that required urgent investigation at the national level.
Ofwat claim they have assured the safety of schemes such as the one proposed at Teddington, but the UK is not immune from contaminated water outbreaks.
In May, 46 cases of cryptosporidium infection in the Brixham area in Devon were reported. Around 16,000 households and businesses in the Brixham area were to told by South West Water not to use their tap water for drinking without boiling and cooling it first.
London may not be facing a direct health crisis yet, but concerns from scientific organisations and local communities are on the rise.
This is a developing story, we will bring you more details as they come. Please refresh the page to update.
HeadlineOfwat issues a record £158m rebate for water companies
Short HeadlineRecord fines highlight London's water crisis
StandfirstBritish water companies are in the spotlight after failing to meet environmental targets for the fourth consecutive year.
Water companies are once again being accused of failing to meet environmental targets, as the UK’s water systems continue to deteriorate. A severe reduction in biodiversity and an increased presence of “forever chemicals” are just two of the threats highlighted.
Ofwat has issued a record £158 million rebate for UK water companies.
One government report stated. “In England rivers are a mess. A ‘chemical cocktail’ of sewage, agricultural waste, and plastic is polluting the waters of many of the country’s rivers”.
On 12 October the Labour Government passed its 100-day milestone. It now faces nationwide scrutiny as the UK reflects on which election promises it is on track to keep. The party website sets out multiple aims, as part of its “10 Labour policies to change Britain”.
“Stop water bosses’ bonuses when their companies harm the environment…allow the regulator to pursue criminal charges against water bosses”.
City News approached Ofwat for comment on whether criminal charges would be brought after the latest round of fines. They said, “5-year targets end in April 2025 so companies have a way to go to meet them, and it is true to say that they have fallen back on several key targets including pollution incidents and internal sewer flooding”.
London’s polluted water is largely due to the mixing of rainwater and sewage. Of the 41 river bodies only one is classed as being in “good” condition. Recent investigations have found that not only is the city experiencing a major ecological disaster but a potential health hazard.
The ecological threat to London’s rivers has been widely publicised. Industrial chemicals, fertilisers, and raw and treated sewage all contribute to the reduction of river biodiversity.
But what about the effect on humans?
A recent report published by Bluewater, a water purification firm, has shown that parts of the Thames contain Perfluorooctanoic Acid and Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid, also known as forever chemicals.
These chemicals have been linked to health issues like cancer, liver damage, reduced fertility and birth defects. Samples of tap water were taken from Harrow, Heathrow and Battersea. The level of harmful PFAs detected in all the samples exceeded Sweden’s regularity limits by 550 per cent.
The reports do not currently indicate a major threat to human life. London’s water undergoes rigorous testing and cleaning before being turned into potable water and the long-term effect of forever chemicals is still being studied.
This report, in combination with research by the Royal Society of Chemistry suggests that “the existing regulatory infrastructure in the UK as not fit for purpose”.
Increased rainfall, linked to climate change, and an increasing population could mean the capital’s Victorian sewer system, which was designed for a population of 4 million, is not capable of protecting people or the environment from increasingly harmful water.
Henley-on-Thames, England. Britain has become notorious as a place where a casual swim could lead to an extended visit to the hospital. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
City News spoke to Theo Thomas from the London Water Keeper, a lobby group that monitors London’s waterways. Mr Thomas warned that water companies, often owned by foreign investors, are not transparent enough when it comes to outlining their practices.
He said Thames Water has only mapped out around 60% of its sewer network in London, with other companies in a similar situation. As a result, they do not know where a large proportion of their waste is being pumped.
He believes that such large gaps in organisational data will continue to hold back the water companies from upgrading infrastructure and creating long term solutions to issues such as sewage overflow during heavy rain.
London Water Keeper advocate for the use of green spaces to help absorb excess rainfall. This is a method Mr Thomas believes should be central to companies’ efforts to keep London’s water clean. Instead, Mr Thomas says, water companies continue to build inefficient concrete containers or practice the dumping of untreated sewage into rivers when the weather becomes unmanageable.
One example of the damaging approach can be seen in an ambitious plan unveiled by the Mayor of London last month. Sadiq Khan set out a proposal to clean a stretch of water in Teddington, southwest London. The goal, which is set over 10 years, is to turn this stretch into a designated swimming spot.
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed. (AP Photo/Thomas Krych)London Mayor Sadiq Khan. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Yet within a couple of weeks, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed gave the green light to a plan by Thames Water to pump 75m litres a day of effluent sewage water into the same spot.
City News contacted the Mayor’s office, Defra and Ofwat for comment. It received this response from the water regulator:
‘The discharge of recycled water from Teddington when the scheme is operational would not deteriorate water quality…If Teddington DRA became operational, regular monitoring of the water quality of the discharge would be undertaken to ensure it meets the strict requirements…’
The Mayor’s office and Defra did not respond.
City News also spoke to members of the local community in Teddington.
Laura, who works for the Thames Boat Project by Teddington Lock, said she would never swim in the Thames due to the pollution. She said she had little faith in promises made by Thames Water at their open community consultation evenings and the water companies “should be nationalised so that they can’t hide anymore…”
Fabienne, who has lived on a houseboat for over two years and recently moored near Teddington, was less concerned by the pollution but was alarmed by forever chemicals. He believed PFAs were a “growing scandal” that required urgent investigation at the national level.
Ofwat claim they have assured the safety of schemes such as the one proposed at Teddington, but the UK is not immune from contaminated water outbreaks.
In May, 46 cases of cryptosporidium infection in the Brixham area in Devon were reported. Around 16,000 households and businesses in the Brixham area were to told by South West Water not to use their tap water for drinking without boiling and cooling it first.
London may not be facing a direct health crisis yet, but concerns from scientific organisations and local communities are on the rise.
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