Tidal Fish Kill June 2011

Subject: Re: **Tidal Fish Kill June 2011** Wed Jun 08, 2011 1:01 pm

any pics of the eel?

Subject: Re: **Tidal Fish Kill June 2011** Wed Jun 08, 2011 1:26 pm

David Harvey wrote:: Email from Richard Aylard, head of Communications for Thames Water.. and an Angler and TAC member from the very early days..

Dear James

I wanted to give you a bit of background to the major discharges of storm
sewage to the tidal River Thames over the weekend and into Monday morning,
following heavy rainfall, which I know will have appalled your members and
every other angler who cares about the Thames.

The discharges, which we very much regret, clearly led to a significant
fish kill and other environmental damage (which is still being assessed).
Unfortunately, and although it sounds like a complete cop-out, we had no
alternative to making these discharges, which are legal and consented, as
this is the way the system was designed in the 1850s, in order to prevent
sewage overflowing back up into streets and homes. The problems caused are
always particularly bad after a long dry period when the solid matter that
has built up in our pipes over several months is discharged into the river
by heavy rain. Low flows in the river and the fact that the discharges
commenced at around low tide, meaning that the pollution was initially
carried upstream, and then down again when the tide turned, added to the
severity of the situation.

Incidents like this are clearly totally unsatisfactory in a modern capital
city and I know you are aware that we have a major programme of work under
way to sort the problem out. In the west London area this includes a 50%
increase in treatment capacity at our Mogden sewage treatment works (which
you have seen) and the proposed Thames Tunnel.

On this occasion, Mogden STW had to discharge around 200,000 tonnes of
screened and settled (but otherwise untreated) sewage once its storm tanks
were full to capacity. I do need to assure you that once the extension is
completed in March 2013 the works will be able to handle a similar
situation without even using its storm tanks, let alone discharging to the
river.

The Thames Tunnel is desperately needed to address all the unsatisfactory
combined sewer overflows (CSOs) to the river, including Hammersmith,
Western and Lots Road Pumping Stations, which between them had to discharge
more than 250,000 tonnes on this occasion.

Since the event we have been working with the Environment Agency, using
aeration and skimmer vessels and dosing with hydrogen peroxide, to increase
oxygen levels in the river and remove debris.

Please let me know if you would like any further information or would like
to see the Environment Agency's press release.

Best wishes

Richard

A total disgrace!

As ever

Hugo

Subject: they are not cats Wed Jun 08, 2011 1:37 pm

shill I ring them and tell them fish are dying

http://www.surreyherald.co.uk/surrey-news/news-surrey//2011/06/07/at-least-20-cats-rescused-from-new-haw-home-86289-28835671/?campaign=SurreyHerald_email_emailnewsletter:20110608

Subject: Re: **Tidal Fish Kill June 2011** Wed Jun 08, 2011 1:39 pm

this makes my blood boil !!

why was the human waste just screened and settled ? isnt it meant to be heavily diluted ? its a disgrace seeing floaters (in the fishkill pics) in the thames , and im glad that the people at thames water do actually care about it , but realise at this moment in time theres nothing else to do with it until the 2013 changes take place ....

also why werent any thames water guys out there helping the tac with rescuing dying fish from a whole load of s***t , all of it being their fault ...

if they had a concience they would be !!

the whole episode totally disgusts me !!!! dont know what else to say .......

Posts : 2435 Join date : 2010-01-28

BBC have picked it up aswell

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13693265

Posts : 2152 Join date : 2010-01-21

keith, contact everyone m8, as should everyone else

Subject: **Tidal Fish Kill** Wed Jun 08, 2011 4:54 pm

I contacted the BBC at 10 am today there post timed at10.45 hope we had something to do with it!!!!!
A big thank you to steve and every one who waded in to help, reading the reports last night to the kids when I noticed we all had tears in our eyes. It took a while to explain why this had happened.
Thames water must know this would happen and where it would come from so why were the blubber boat not there waiting for it.
Can't beleve the media have been so slow on the up take.
Good work every one on spreading the word.
Thank" old father Thames " for the TAC.

Subject: Re: **Tidal Fish Kill June 2011** Wed Jun 08, 2011 6:32 pm

Just posted a couple of emails about this tragedy on the 'Pure Piscator' forum - the only positive comment was from one of our members (Hugo)

Trying to get some sort of reaction I posted the following:

"Latest reports I've seen state that ONLY 450,000 cubic meters of sewage was released this week - that's OK then, so apologies from me for overstating the spillage.

After all that's ONLY enough to fill about 180 olympic sized swimming pools.

This is not just disgraceful, it's bliddy shameful in this day and age.........."

Posts : 2435 Join date : 2010-01-28

Hope everyone saw the piece on ITV's London Tonight. Dave did us credit - can't be easy talking to a camera knowing what you say is going on TV - he did really well. Even wearing his TAC t-shirt Wink

Brilliant the TAC's photos got used on tele. Paul Sullivan took some of them, nice one mate.

Ultimately, it's down to the club's links with the EA we got made aware of the spill.

That meant we could leg it down there, record evidence of Thames Water's disgusting practices and then make sure the world knows about it. If not, no-one would've known a thing.

Subject: Re: **Tidal Fish Kill June 2011** Wed Jun 08, 2011 6:39 pm

Quote :: Thames water must know this would happen and where it would come from so why were the blubber boat not there waiting for it.

Exactly my thoughts, they know it will happen, why can they not be more proactive about dealing with it?
As well as the boats there should be a fixed oxygenator plant right in front of the main CSOs or even inside the sewer itself.
I am also left wondering why are the Mogden improvements going to take another 2 years!

Subject: Re: **Tidal Fish Kill June 2011** Wed Jun 08, 2011 6:41 pm

Quote :: Hope everyone saw the piece on ITV's London Tonight.

Yes nice one Dave, and we got the top slot just before the weather too!

Subject: Re: **Tidal Fish Kill June 2011** Wed Jun 08, 2011 6:53 pm

i see it too mate , nice one dave , bit gutted they just said "a group of local anglers" and not the thames anglers conservancy .
good interview dave m8 .

Subject: Re: **Tidal Fish Kill June 2011** Wed Jun 08, 2011 9:53 pm

Cheers mate, shame they didnt get the TAC name up but there can only be one group.

Must make sure next time I get it right

Subject: Re: **Tidal Fish Kill June 2011** Wed Jun 08, 2011 11:03 pm

hey dave mate , you fishing opening night at all ? inbox me m8

Posts : 2435 Join date : 2010-01-28

Right.....video footage of the dead and dying fish on the tidal. (Taken in low light so best not viewed full screen)

Look out for the flounder under the silver fish and eels at 42 seconds.

And where you see the other flounder being revived by Jim, it's not on the vid but we think he saved its life as it kicked away strongly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmJwgL15NG8

Subject: **Tidal Fish Kill** Thu Jun 09, 2011 12:41 am

Dave you were a total natural in front of the camara. Can we blow up some photos for display on the 19th.?
Steve that vid brings it home mate.

Posts : 2152 Join date : 2010-01-21

nice one for the film steve

good shout about walton on june 19th richard, I think we should include not only some big pics, but have the film running on a screen as well

Subject: tidal fish kill Thu Jun 09, 2011 8:02 am

i don,t think i could watch that again however it hammers home the truth and to think years ago i had to buy a thames water fishing licence Sad

Subject: Re: **Tidal Fish Kill June 2011** Thu Jun 09, 2011 8:55 am

Just watched that video and found it very upsetting, You guys deserve medals for getting in there.
Especially as your own personal health is at risk from the crap that those poor fish had to endure.

Hats off to you guys.

Posts : 209 Join date : 2010-04-09

Superb job on ITV David. Compare their coverage to the BBC local news, 10 seconds of Thames Water justification.

Posts : 2435 Join date : 2010-01-28

The TAC's first television appearance for those that missed ITV news yesterday evening.

http://www.itv.com/london/thames-sewage-kills-fish47370/

Subject: Re: **Tidal Fish Kill June 2011** Thu Jun 09, 2011 6:45 pm

Loads of press about this sad incident,

Here are a few, first one is the Guardian newspaper

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/jun/09/fish-thames-sewage

http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/local/richmondnews/9073342.Thousands_of_fish_die_in_sewage_overflow/

http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/fulham-and-hammersmith-news/local-fulham-and-hammersmith-news/2011/06/08/thousands-of-fish-die-after-heavy-rain-sparks-river-thames-sewage-leaks-82029-28842446/?amp

http://www.stmgrts.org.uk/archives/2011/06/massive_fish_kill_following_thames_pollution_incid.html

The Guardian report is being picked up by lots of other sites, has a link back to the TAC.

Posts : 50 Join date : 2010-01-26

Gents

On behalf of all TAC members can I thank 'Admin' for a job well done in bringing this disaster to the general public's attention.
First class job fellas

Mike

Subject: Re: **Tidal Fish Kill June 2011** Thu Jun 09, 2011 8:34 pm

Mike Wilson wrote:: Gents

On behalf of all TAC members can I thank 'Admin' for a job well done in bringing this disaster to the general public's attention.
First class job fellas

Mike

Amen to that - very well done.

I bet we don't get any coverage on 'Nature Watch' tho' - be interesting to see Chris Packham's reaction - the others'll all be too busy puking...............

This latest incident has gotten so much publicity but, if possible, we should try to make it known to the general public that Mogden deliberately discharges sewage approximately once every 13 days - it's a pity we dont know exactly how much tho'

Posts : 2152 Join date : 2010-01-21

many thanks for the kind words folks
this was our first quick response to the recurring pollution, we learn't loads and wanna do better next time
any and all assistance/suggestions are mucho appreciated

» Sun 20th Nov. 2011 dace fish in during run off on tidal
» Your Tidal Thames - Catchment Pilot Meeting 27th June
» Fish Kill on the Basingstoke Canal
» Thames Water kill the fish in another tributary
» Possible Cat.1 fish kill incident Duke of Northumberland River

**Tidal Fish Kill June 2011**

Tidal Fish Kill June 2011