Staines Thames Question

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/91169578?source=wapi&referrer=kh.google.com

Hi

Whilst walking and Kayaking here ive noticed this discharge outlet in the bushes.
Once a while the flap lifts up and it discharges.
Its basically in line with the halfords car park and situated into the bushes and discarges directly into the river.
couple of questions is it legal ?
what is it ?
where does it come from and why ?

Hope you can help.

Regards Ian

It looks like a classic mis-connection Ian.
Basically, there's a land drain intended to take ground or road water run-off (which in itself is not exactly clean, but...) and dump it in the river.   But someone has plumbed their waste water into it and so, instead of going into the sewer system, their waste is going into the river.

If you could report it to Thames Water they will likely investigate, if you call the EA as well on 0800 80 70 60 (and get the reference number) it might even get chased up.  There are literally thousands of these things and no way of knowing which ones are "clean" and which are mis-connected, other than by walking the river banks *at the right moment* and spotting them. The bad ones get prioritised and TW have targets to fix the worst ones over a 5-year period.  This does look like quite a bad one, please do call it in.

See: http://www.connectright.org.uk/ and http://www.thameswater.co.uk/cr/Sustainabledrainage/Pollutionincidents/Misconnecteddrains/index.html

It looks like you can report it to Thames Water online via the form at http://www.thameswater.co.uk/help-and-advice/8202.htm and/or call 0800 316 9800

Hi Ed

Thanks for that.
Looking at the photo and the comments made by the photographer and the location and your comments there is a car wash next to Homebase and they must go through a lot water and detergent cleaner etc.
i thinking it might be some pit what then pumps out when full interesting.

Regards Ian

Ah I presumed it was your photo Ian
Right well if that's it, the EA should be able to put a rapid stop to their activities.

if i remember correctly, i was down there a few years ago, a big load of form came out, it was about 2 feet high, i was by the bridge at the time, by the time i got there, it had all stoped, but there was a stream of form going across the river, i did take pics, but hav'nt got them now, they might be on this site somewere,

A couple of messages on Twitter and we've got Thames Water promising to investigate, the EA asking to please call their hotline & log it, and a reporter from the Surrey Herald newspaper on the case.

I just noticed that the photo was uploaded 1st June 2013, and the camera date is 30th June 2012
Anyone local to that area, if you could please take a look next time you're passing and report if you
see anything going in which shouldn't please, preferably with a photo.
Thanks, Ed.

Hi

Just reported too Thames Water they where very helpfull.
we used google earth too pin point it.

Lets see what happens now.

Ian  

thats about the time i was there, took pics but do not no were they are now, the form was around 2' high and 30/40 yards long going across the thames, I', sure i put them on this site somewhere, they might be in arcives some were

Do i need to report it to the ea as well as i reported it to Thames Water ?

Only if you are down there and can see it's still going on right now