Sewage Discharge Notification

From TW at 04:38

Within the next hour, Mogden Sewage Treatment Works will be discharging heavily diluted storm water into the River Thames.

Storm water is screened, settled in tanks and mixed with fully treated wastewater before it reaches the river.

We regret the necessity to discharge partly treated effluent in this way. Improvements are already underway at Mogden to reduce the chance of this happening in the future.

Until this essential work is done, London's sewer network - which is Victorian - and other facilities will remain overstretched. This means that after heavy rain there is simply nowhere else for excess storm sewage to go, which is why these discharges, though regrettable, are legal and consented.

Thames Water

Admin wrote:

Until this essential work is done, London's sewer network - which is Victorian - and other facilities will remain overstretched. This means that after heavy rain there is simply nowhere else for excess storm sewage to go, which is why these discharges, though regrettable, are legal and consented.

Just for your information, when the water utilities were privatised under the previous Conservative Govt. in the late 80's, they were literally made very 'attractive for sale' by removing the need to improve the Sewage Treatment Works (through weakened legislation), and all the newly formed companies were given "Temporary Consents" to discharge directly into their host water systems - in our case - directly into the Thames. These consents were introduced by the then Govt. to break up the unions, and quite conceivably to remove a "problem" (in terms of managing the utilities on all fronts), and to expediate changes for the better in the management of said water utilities.

For a brief political history of the privatisation - click here

21 years later this still goes on (as above) and despite the recent work undertaken to upgrade the sewer system by Thames Water (to be completed in 2014), it is still - and will remain - legal to do so until such a time that the water utilities have eventually got their act together. This was recently challenged by Fish Legal (2009) and the Environment Agency introduced a standardised set of regulations to reduce the problem, and then the utility companies challenged these proposed regulations, and here's news from Fish Legal from a while back directly relating to this problem;

Fish Legal Fishing News

Fish Legal, the legal arm of the Angling Trust, has reacted with dismay to the news that six water companies have won their appeal against the decision of Environment Agency (EA) to provide proper regulation for the thousands of unregulated Combined Sewage Overflows (CSOs) in England and Wales.



Over twenty years ago, in 1989, at the time of water privatisation, the water companies were granted temporary consents for many thousands of discharges carrying storm sewage into English and Welsh rivers. This followed the discovery, immediately pre-privatisation, that vast numbers of these discharges had no legal consent.

At the time, it was quite clear that the granting of temporary consents was a quick fix designed to enable the Government of the day to sell the companies into private hands with no potential criminal liabilities. Under pressure from Fish Legal, the EA eventually decided, in April 2009, to impose a set of standard conditions on all those discharges in order to bring them into proper regulation.

However, the companies – which include United Utilities Water PLC, Severn Trent Water Ltd, Anglian Water Services Ltd, Yorkshire Water Services Ltd, Thames Water Utilities Ltd and Dwr Cymru Welsh Water – appealed the decision by the EA.

They argued at the appeal hearing that the new discharge consents were unlawful and would require expensive works to be carried out, putting them in a position where they might be prosecuted if there were any future breaches.

The arguments between the companies and the EA centred on a set of conditions which would make it an offence, for instance, to cause a deterioration in the quality of water in rivers and lakes. Such conditions have now been omitted, leaving a consent which permits the lawful use of the CSOs except in the narrowest of circumstances.

Fish Legal – which had been invited to take part as an interested party at the hearing in support of the EA – argued that it had investigated pollutions in England caused by discharging CSOs and that the very basic terms of deemed consents had meant that the Agency had been unable to regulate or enforce despite the scale of the damage caused to the environment.

However, the Inspector has now decided in favour of the water companies, and has re-written the conditions to addresses the companies’ concerns. In the view of Fish Legal, the new wording allows the companies to pollute without fear of enforcement except in the most limited of circumstances.
Justin Neal, Head Solicitor at Fish Legal, commented:

“After several years of campaigning, the Fish Legal team were jubilant that the Agency had decided to do something about the thousands of deemed consents in England and Wales. Our view is that reasonable conditions in carefully worded consents could provide a solution. However, the water companies seem to see this as an issue where the environment takes second place. The consents resulting from the appeal make little difference to the present situation and it may be that we will be facing devastating pollutions in the future where the Agency will not be able to enforce.”

Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of the Angling Trust and Fish Legal, said:

“Anglers are fed up with fishing in rivers where the trees are festooned with sanitary products and invertebrates and fish are killed or weakened by sewage pollution. This decision delays the restoration of rivers to good condition for the benefit of all wildlife and fisheries unacceptably. The appeal by the water companies is an outrageous dodge of their responsibilities to take care of our rivers and an unacceptable failure to honour the spirit of these consents, which were only intended as a temporary measure. We will continue to fight for clean waters.”

Whilst I understand that Thames Water are currently upgrading the Sewage Treatment Works, and that they will spend the money that WE pay them - which incidentally earnt the "owners" nearly £500mn pounds last year - surely we need greater tools for the legaslative to ensure that these companies (Thames Water included) have a duty of care, over and above their profit margins?

What came first, the chicken or the egg? In the case of the water utilities we certainly know what comes first when it comes down to the choice of the pound versus pollution...


Richard

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Here's a film concerning the discharges on the Thames, made by the EA, in 2004. Many of you will recognise the area, we hope that things are improving...







If this doesn't make you sit up and take notice, nothing will...


Richard

Had no idea that the government of the time softened up sewage treatment requirements to make the water companies easier for them to sell. It's always all about the money.

Disgusting video - shameful.

folks, the water companies were sold on the cheap 20 years ago, with temporary consents to pollute, that temporary consent was renewed this year, and now after changing hands a few times, its owned by foreign venture capitalists, and the icing on the cake ?, our government is being taken to court by the european government because a japanese owned company is allowed to put pooh in our river, well I dont want the french, germans or any other european country taking my government to court because it is poisoning my river, I WANT TO TAKE 'EM TO COURT MYSELF, THEY'RE MY BLOODY GOVERNMENT

From TW last night

Within the next hour, Mogden Sewage Treatment Works will be discharging heavily diluted storm water into the River Thames.

Storm water is screened, settled in tanks and mixed with fully treated wastewater before it reaches the river.

We regret the necessity to discharge partly treated effluent in this way. Improvements are already under way at Mogden to reduce the chance of this happening in the future.

Until this essential work is done, London's sewer network - which is Victorian - and other facilities will remain overstretched. This means that after heavy rain there is simply nowhere else for excess storm sewage to go, which is why these discharges, though regrettable, are legal and consented.

Thames Water

.

I just love this line...

"This means that after heavy rain there is simply nowhere else for excess storm sewage to go, which is why these discharges, though regrettable, are legal and consented. Thames Water"

Oh, that's alright then...


Richard

its alright because Thames Water have sold of some of their sites for housing development, so they simply dont have the space, unfortunately those living in these riverside apartments/flash flats are contributing to the problem with their paved parking spaces, but thats ok as well, cause the share holders are happy

You have hopefully all watched the video now. This is one of the reasons we are here.

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Very interesting video Doc, thanks.

From TW at 23:01

Within the next hour, Mogden Sewage Treatment Works will be discharging heavily diluted storm water into the River Thames.

Storm water is screened, settled in tanks and mixed with fully treated wastewater before it reaches the river. We regret the necessity to discharge partly treated effluent in this way.Improvements are already under way at Mogden to reduce the chance of thishappening in the future.

Until this essential work is done, London's sewer network - which is Victorian - and other facilities will remain overstretched. This means thatafter heavy rain there is simply nowhere else for excess storm sewage to go, which is why these discharges, though regrettable, are legal and consented.

RegardsThames Water



Still legally polluting our river

Not to worry Dave... WE will pay for a new tunnel soon!


Richard

Two discharges from Mogden to report, one last night one this morning.

Heaven help us if we get heavy rain

Have a look at the weather over the weekend Dave! Rain, rain and... just a little more rain (app. 40mm).


Richard

They notfied around 6pm of another discharge, so much the last few day and more to come

Missed a couple

4/10 11:06

6/10 06:01


More sh*t and its legal !

Has been a shocking few weeks

nice one buddy, think we should be making more of this

From: Rower Notification/ThamesWater
Date: 23/10/2010 15:05 pm Cc: Bob Dutton/ThamesWater
Subject: Mogden STW Notification of Discharge


Within the next hour, Mogden Sewage Treatment Works will be discharging heavily diluted storm water into the River Thames.

Storm water is screened, settled in tanks and mixed with fully treated wastewater before it reaches the river.

We regret the necessity to discharge partly treated effluent in this way. Improvements are already under way at Mogden to reduce the chance of this happening in the future.

Until this essential work is done, London's sewer network - which is Victorian - and other facilities will remain overstretched. This means that after heavy rain there is simply nowhere else for excess storm sewage to go, which is why these discharges, though regrettable, are legal and consented.

Regards
Thames Water

Happy Xmas from Thames Water....

05:55 Tuesday

Within the next hour, Mogden Sewage Treatment Works will be discharging heavily diluted storm water into the River Thames.

Storm water is screened, settled in tanks and mixed with fully treated wastewater before it reaches the river.

We regret the necessity to discharge partly treated effluent in this way. Improvements are already underway at Mogden to reduce the chance of this happening in the future.

Until this essential work is done, London's sewer network - which is Victorian - and other facilities will remain overstretched. This means that after heavy rain there is simply nowhere else for excess storm sewage to go, which is why these discharges, though regrettable, are legal and consented.

Thames Water

0845 9200 800
www.thameswater.co.uk

14:51 Thursday (turdsday)

Within the next hour and a half, Mogden Sewage Treatment Works will be discharging heavily diluted storm water into the River Thames.

Storm water is screened, settled in tanks and mixed with fully treated wastewater before it reaches the river.

We regret the necessity to discharge partly treated effluent in this way. Improvements are already under way at Mogden to reduce the chance of this happening in the future.

Until this essential work is done, London's sewer network - which is Victorian - and other facilities will remain overstretched. This means that after heavy rain there is simply nowhere else for excess storm sewage to go, which is why these discharges, though regrettable, are legal and consented.

Regards
Thames Water
_______________________________________________________________

Thames Water Customer Services - Mogden Line (24hr/day): 0845 641 0030

Mogden is the second largest Sewage Treatment Works in the UK, serving 1.9 million people. For more information please visit our website at thameswater.co.uk/mogden

Its raining, its somehow legal, we need that tunnel..

14:42 today

Within the next hour, Mogden Sewage Treatment Works will be dischargingheavily diluted storm water into the River Thames. Storm water is screened, settled in tanks and mixed with fully treatedwastewater before it reaches the river.

We regret the necessity to discharge partly treated effluent in this way.Improvements are already underway at Mogden to reduce the chance of thishappening in the future. Until this essential work is done, London's sewer network - which isVictorian - and other facilities will remain overstretched.

This means thatafter heavy rain there is simply nowhere else for excess storm sewage togo, which is why these discharges, though regrettable, are legal and consented.

Thames Water 0845 9200 800www.thameswater.co.uk

Within the next hour, Mogden Sewage Treatment Works will be discharging heavily diluted storm water into the River Thames.

Storm water is screened, settled in tanks and mixed with fully treated wastewater before it reaches the river.

We regret the necessity to discharge partly treated effluent in this way. Improvements are already under way at Mogden to reduce the chance of this happening in the future.

Until this essential work is done, London's sewer network - which is Victorian - and other facilities will remain overstretched. This means that after heavy rain there is simply nowhere else for excess storm sewage to go, which is why these discharges, though regrettable, are legal and consented.

Thames Water

0845 9200 800
www.thameswater.co.uk

received at 20:59 tonight

Received today at 14:26

Within the next hour, Mogden Sewage Treatment Works will be discharging heavily diluted storm water into the River Thames.

Storm water is screened, settled in tanks and mixed with fully treated wastewater before it reaches the river.

We regret the necessity to discharge partly treated effluent in this way. Improvements are already under way at Mogden to reduce the chance of this happening in the future.

Until this essential work is done, London's sewer network - which is Victorian - and other facilities will remain overstretched. This means that after heavy rain there is simply nowhere else for excess storm sewage to go, which is why these discharges, though regrettable, are legal and consented.

Thames Water

Thames Water 0845 9200 800www.thameswater.co.uk

If anyone has any doubts about the need for the super sewer, these notifications are hard evidence.