Sewage spill 'proof Mogden expansion is needed' (From Hounslow And Brentford Times)

Sewage spill 'proof Mogden expansion is needed'

4:02pm Tuesday 7th July 2009

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Thames Water has said a sewage spill which killed hundreds of fish is proof the controversial expansion of Mogden Sewage Treatment Works is needed.

The water company, which manages the Isleworth sewage works, admitted responsibility after 20,000 tonnes of raw sewage was discharged into the River Thames last Friday. The overflow followed heavy rain and Thames Water said it was “not an accident”.

The untreated sewage killed more than 200 fish, mainly flounder, which were spotted around the Kew Gardens area as the sewage spread downstream.

There are, on average, eight overflows into the river every year, according to Thames Water.

The Environment Agency (EA) worked over the weekend to reduce the impact of the spillage and to try and boost oxygen levels in the water.

Tanya Houston, an EA fisheries officer, said: “This is a serious incident which has caused the death of hundreds of fish. Unfortunately we may never know the exact numbers of fish that have died.“ Susan Kramer, MP for Richmond Park, called for answers and met with the chief executive of Thames Water, David Owens.

She said: “While Thames Water points out that the spillage on Friday was legal, it is outrageous that procedures to deal with heavy rain have not been put in place before.

“I have been assured that the new super sewer should help prevent the worst spillages in future. The new tunnel is set to cost £1bn, so it is vital we get the most possible benefit.

“It is unfair that efforts to clean up the Thames tend to focus on central London, where there are tourists but fewer river users. I have asked Thames Water to clean up our area as a priority and to keep the river pleasant for everyone who uses the river for recreation.”

Hounslow Council gave the green light to Thames Water’s plans to increase the size of the sewage works last month - allowing an increase to its daily capacity of water by 40 per cent.

Thames Water argued the capacity increase would reduce the need to use the storm tanks where untreated water is kept and prevent it spilling into the Thames during heavy rain fall.

A spokeswoman for Thames Water said: "This legally-consented discharge into the river took place following a very heavy downpour, which filled the storm tanks at Mogden, after which there was literally nowhere else for the storm sewage to go.

“We very much regret the impact on the river, but this was not an accident. The system is designed to work like this in such conditions.

“This incident shows why we and the Environment Agency are keen to increase the treatment capacity of Mogden sewage works. This will boost capacity by 40 per cent, making incidents like this far less likely."

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