Forum Topic

20.6bn litres of raw sewage discharged into the Thames at Mogden between early 2019 and  May 2023

‘Mogden, close to the River Thames, also tracks the volume of raw sewage it discharges.Between early 2019 and May this year it spilled 20.6bn litres – the equivalent to roughly 8,000 Olympic pools, according to data released by Thames Water in response to an environmental information request.’ - The Guardian, Tuesday 12th September 2023https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2023/sep/12/unacceptable-how-raw-sewage-has-affected-rivers-in-england-and-wales-in-maps

Tracie Dudley Craig ● 553d5 Comments

I found this recent study of analysis of spot samples along the Thames and over a period of time fascinating.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016041202300483XSewage flows from the Hogsmill and Beverley Brook seemed to be more significant than Mogden (perhaps they didn't catch Mogden at the right time ?).But which pharmaceuticals were detected most in which stretches was interesting. And the houseboats around Twickenham/Teddington were being implicated.And then there was the stuff about the neonicotinoid imidoacloprid which seems to have been banned for agricultural use but can still be used as a flea treatment for pets. The amount in the water shot up during COVID lockdown.... High risk to aquatic life was thought to be evident.

Tim Henderson ● 543d

It's massively cleaner than it was in the 1960s and early 70s. incomparable now even with the sewage.But population increases without factoring in the means to deal with everything properly threatens to undo all this.The London Ring Main built in the 1980s did not factoring such overdevelopment and is nearing it's limits 60 years earlier than expected.The super sewer is only a stop gap as it's sewerage works and water processing works that are really needed.

Raymond Havelock ● 543d

I have a family relation who travels around  parts of Scotland taking domestic water samples from homes and business premises for the water's analysis at a Scottish Laboratory.Does such testing ever take place in Brentford?A sample of water from the River Thames at Brentford might be alarming.If the mud on the riverbank was tested too ... alarm bells might ring.!

Jim Lawes ● 544d

Trouble is Thames Water have no input to overdevelopment and overdensification urbanisation. and with no suitable locations left for processing infrastructure. The environmental footprint for Water Processing is massive and this undoes any planning desires of development so it is simply not considered any further than ticking a few boxes or the ludicrous offsetting method which simply shifts a problem onto someone else's patch.Not helped by the shortcomings of Census with far too many using templates to fill in so not creating a truly accurate source to to go by.Hopefully that will not be possible in the next Census.

Raymond Havelock ● 545d

Over the past 10 years...several of our local MPs have made visits to Mogden and made protests ... but to no avail.Brentford's riverbanks continue to be knee deep in mud and the stuff!Well highlighted.Thanks.

Jim Lawes ● 553d