The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan has revealed shocking new analysis showing that between April and December 2023, Thames Water released sewage into London's waterways for 6,590 hours, 11 minutes and 54 seconds – a five-fold increase on the same period the previous year.
Article continues below
In just six days, between 25 December and 31 December 2023, sewage was dumped across the Thames Water network for 128 hours and 12 minutes, equivalent to 18 hours every day.
These discharges include both treated sewage and overflows of untreated sewage and storm water into rivers during high rainfall. The new analysis comes from published Thames Water data which monitors discharge from 118 sites across the Thames Water network feeding into 33 rivers and waterways.
In a letter to new Thames Water CEO Chris Weston, the Mayor highlighted the scale of the challenge that decades of under investment has led to London now having no healthy rivers. Sadiq urged Chris Weston to urgently get to grips with the problem and asked for reassurance that the organisation “will fulfil its obligations on environment including cleaning up our rivers and tackle pollution dischargesâ€.
The Mayor gave the example of the River Wandle – which was the last London river to lose its “good†status in summer of 2023 – which is now set to have sewage spills continuing until at least 2035.
In addition to the poor level of service Thames Water has been providing for Londoners, the Mayor is also calling on ministers to do more to get a grip of the crisis.
Sadiq is calling on the Government to:
• Develop a plan to guide Thames Water back to strong financial health in a way which doesn’t delaying the cleaning up of London’s rivers
• Deliver the essential water network upgrades that are needed, while protecting Londoners from increased bills.
• Introduce tougher legislation that forces water companies to end sewage discharge into rivers. This should include tougher penalties for water companies.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “London’s rivers are the arteries of our city. Frankly the current state of some of our rivers is appalling and only getting worse. Thames Water urgently need to up their up their game, and get a grip of the situation.
"At the same time, ministers are standing by and letting more and more dirty sewage flow into our rivers. We need tougher legislation that forces water companies to act as a matter of urgency.
“While we’re making huge progress cleaning up London’s air and much of the capital’s environment, it’s a scandal that levels of sewage in our rivers are increasing at the same time.†■