Singer Feargal Sharkey has slammed Thames Water for dumping sewage into the River Kennet and River Lambourn, which are near Reading and Newbury.
The former The Undertones frontman tweeted his frustrations last week with the amount of sewage dumped into the two rivers.
The River Kennet is a chalk stream some of the rarest river habitat in the world.
— Feargal Sharkey (@Feargal_Sharkey) September 1, 2020
It rises in Wiltshire near Silbury and Avebury yet by the time it reaches Marlborough just 10 miles later it is already polluted.
In 2019 @Thameswater spent 1,636 hours dumping sewage into it. pic.twitter.com/4zibm2ytel
He said 4,628 hours’ worth of sewage was dumped into the River Kennet last year between Woolhampton, (which is between Reading and Newbury) and east Reading, where the River Kennet meets the River Thames.
On the River Lambourn, he tweeted: “The River Lambourn is a chalk stream one of the rarest habitats in the world.
“It rises near Lambourne, Berks and is a tributary of the Kennet. You will have seen it featured on Bake Off.
“Only 16 miles long, yet in 2019, Thames Water spent 601 hours dumping sewage into it.”
The River Lambourn is a chalk stream 1 of the rarest habitats in the world.
— Feargal Sharkey (@Feargal_Sharkey) September 2, 2020
It rises near Lambourne, Berks and is a tributary of the Kennet. You will have seen it featured on Bake Off.
Only 16 miles long yet In 2019 @Thameswater spent 601
hours dumping sewage into it. pic.twitter.com/KnzaUiBo0R
In response, Thames Water said sewage discharges are heavily diluted by rainwater and only happen when there is no alternative, with the system designed to naturally overflow to prevent flooding.
But former Newbury MP Richard Benyon also expressed his own concerns.
He said: “We need to look at it this way – chalk streams are our rainforests, very rare precious ecosystems.
“‘Some sewage’ is not alright. It’s just not. We are hosting COP26 next year. Get our own house in order. Now.”
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A spokesman for the water company, whose HQ is in Reading, added: “We work hard to minimise storm discharges, while also looking at how we can improve the system for the future, including reducing groundwater infiltration and increasing capacity.
“We’ve also invested heavily in monitoring equipment to understand how frequently spills occur and help us plan improvements.
“We fully appreciate just how well loved the Thames and its tributaries are and why people want to use them for recreation, however they should be mindful that sewage discharges aren’t the only sources of pollutants.
“Animal faeces from livestock and wildlife, along with run-off from farms and roads, also contribute to the hazards.”
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