Hammersmith & Fulham (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Hammersmith and Fulham Council slams Thames water for E.coli levels, accusing the company of failing to protect the environment amid rising sewage discharges.
Residents “deserve a clean Thames – rather than increasing bills and a dirty river,” said Cllr. Sharon Holder, Cabinet Member for Public Realm on the Hammersmith and Fulham Council.
Thames Water wants to update almost 250 of its locations throughout the region to boost capacity and reduce storm discharges, and it will invest ‘a record amount’ in its infrastructure over the next five years, according to a spokesperson.
The Guardian was the first to report on data showing a dramatic increase in sewage released by Thames Water.
According to the report, data gathered by analyst Peter Hammond indicated that the water corporation was accountable for about 300,000 hours of sewage that entered rivers in the previous year. In 2023, this figure sat at 196,414 hours.
However, since the Environment Agency has not yet confirmed the data, it could change. In the upcoming weeks, this is to be completed.
From Kent and Essex in the east to portions of Gloucester in the west, Thames Water offers services. In some locations, this refers to garbage services instead of water, which is supplied in towns including London, Slough, Oxford, and Cirencester.
Concerns over Thames Water’s sewage discharges have previously been voiced by Hammersmith and Fulham, a neighborhood in London that borders a section of the River Thames.
Public Health Director Dr. Nicola Lang and former Deputy Council Leader Ben Coleman, who is currently a Labour MP for Chelsea and Fulham, wrote to Thames Water last year “to express our horror” at the discharge of sewage into the Thames.
This came after tests conducted at Fulham Reach revealed that Hammersmith had up to ten times the permissible level of E. coli germs for bathing water.
Following their defeat by Cambridge in the Boat Race last year, rowers from the University of Oxford were also among those who voiced their disapproval of the sewage levels in the River Thames.
Leonard Jenkins, a team member, admitted to BBC Sport that he had been throwing up before the event. At the time, Thames Water stated that a “key focus” was to improve the health of the river.
Since then, the super sewer, also known as the Thames Tideway Tunnel, has been fully connected and is scheduled to open later this year. It is anticipated that 95% of sewage leaks into the river will be prevented thanks to funding provided by Thames Water users.
This month, Thames Water also revealed plans to spend £1.8 billion to address 26 sewage overflows on the Wandle, Lee, Brent, and Roding rivers. According to the company’s overflow map, the majority of its locations along the section of the Thames by Hammersmith and Fulham have not released sewage as of yet in 2025.
However, it is noted that in early January, the West Putney Storm Relief CSO, which is located just over the river, discharged for 31 hours and 45 minutes.
Cllr Holder said:
“The continued dumping of raw sewage by Thames Water is yet further evidence they’re failing to protect our river and residents.
The annual Boat Race reminds us of their broken promises as they continue to discharge sewage even when there’s no rainfall. In Fulham, dangerous E.coli levels now threaten public health. Our residents deserve a clean Thames – rather than increasing bills and a dirty river.”
A spokesperson for Thames Water said:
“It is very important to note that storm overflow data for the 2024 period has not yet been verified by the EA, and could be subject to change. In 2024 we experienced one of the wettest years on record.
Storm discharges are closely correlated with rainfall and groundwater conditions, and we therefore experienced an increase in the frequency and duration of storm discharge events during 2024.”
He added that he knows how much people enjoy and appreciate rivers, which is why over the next five years we will deliver a record amount of investment to address our ageing infrastructure.
This is an enormous undertaking; they are responsible for the oldest and most complex infrastructure of any company in the sector.
They continue to execute our plans to upgrade over 250 of our sites across the region to increase treatment capacity, lower the number of storm discharges and implement nutrient reduction schemes.
In addition, the Tideway Tunnel and associated upgrades come into full operation in 2025 and will capture 95 per cent of the untreated sewage currently entering the tidal Thames in a typical year. This includes the CSO at West Putney.
They are committed to seeing waterways thrive, but we can’t do it alone. Farming, industry, road runoff, wildlife and increasingly extreme weather also play a role in river health.
While all storm discharges are unacceptable, the sewage system was historically designed to prevent sewage backing up into people’s homes.
Transparency is at the heart of what we do, and we were the first water company to publish a real time data map on our website, before it became a legal requirement to do so.
Thames Water, which is struggling with debts of almost £19 billion, just received approval from the court of appeals for a £3 billion bailout.
Additionally, when the regulator Ofwat limited the increase to 35%, it requested that the Competition and Markets Authority hike customer bills by 59% over the following five years.
What are the key highlights on the Hammersmith and Fulham Council’s response?
The Hammersmith and Fulham Council has challenged Thames Water over these discharges, demanding commitments to improve water quality and protect public health.
The council views these sewage releases as a serious threat to the river’s ecosystem as well as the health of residents and visitors. Since rowers are close to polluted water, new health guidelines have been issued, which include covering cuts and blisters with waterproof dressings, avoiding swallowing river water, wearing appropriate footwear, and thoroughly cleaning equipment.
The high E. coli levels are the result of Thames Water’s frequent sewage discharges into the Thames and its tributaries, which can cause serious health risks, including intestinal infections, urinary tract infections, and in severe cases, life-threatening sepsis.