Anti-sewage campaigners lead paddle protest

The groups are calling on Thames Water to "clean up" its act

Campaigners have staged what they described as a "paddle-out protest" against sewage discharges.

The joint demonstration by River Action and Surfers Against Sewage saw activists floating on a section of the river outside Thames Water's headquarters in Reading.

The groups are urging voters to use the upcoming election to "vote for clean rivers".

Thames Water said it is committed to seeing "waterways thrive" but added more investment is required to improve infrastructure.

Chloe Peck from River Action, said “it is ironic" that the patch of water outside the water firm's HQ is "just about safe to swim in"

River Action said it supervised water quality tests in the river outside the Thames Water offices between 9 and 19 June and found an average of 741 E.coli colony forming units (CFUs) per 100ml of water.

According to the group, 900 CFUs is the limit for the Environment Agency to consider the water safe for swimming.

Chloe Peck from River Action, said “it is ironic" that this patch of the River Thames outside the water firm's HQ is "just about safe to swim in".

She added: "Wherever else they operate and we have taken water samples, their sewage pollution presents a major health risk.

“Earlier this year we found extraordinarily high levels of E.coli on the Thames used for the university boat race - 9,500 CFUs - and in that case rowers did get very sick."

Ms Peck said River Action wants Thames Water to "take responsibility for polluting the nation’s capital river, clean up your act and invest to fix your leaky infrastructure."

Thames Water said "farming, industry, livestock and more extreme weather also play a role in river health"

In a statement Thames Water said it is calling for more investment across the sector.

It added: “While all discharges are unacceptable, the sewage system was historically designed to work in this way, to prevent sewage backing up into people’s homes."

“We know how much rivers are loved and enjoyed by everyone, and we are committed to seeing our waterways thrive, but we can’t do it alone.

"Farming, industry, livestock and more extreme weather also play a role in river health."

The company said that it puts "transparency at the heart" of its work and it shares real time data on its website.

Ms Peck added: "This is a really important time to consider government actions too.

"We want them to regulate what is happening with the water companies and they just haven't got enough funding to do that.

"So when next Thursday comes along, I think it is really vital that we use our vote to vote for clean rivers."

Giles Bristow from Surfers Against Sewage said: “From the riverbanks to the beachfront, we're hearing loud and clear that a furious British public is ready to reclaim our waterways from the polluters.

“Communities across the UK helped lift the lid on the sewage scandal and they are now demanding to know how their prospective parliamentary candidates plan to end sewage pollution."

The issue has been discussed by the main political parties ahead of the election.

Here is what they have said:

• The Conservative party said it would work with the water regulator to hold firms that pollute rivers and seas to account and re-invest fines into a new fund to improve water quality.

• Labour has said it would make polluting water companies clean up rivers and seas and give the regulator powers to block bonuses for company bosses.

• The Liberal Democrats have called for an end to sewage discharges into rivers and seas by transforming water companies into public benefit companies and creating a new regulator.

• The Green party wants to end sewage discharges into rivers and seas by taking water companies into public ownership.

• Reform UK has been contacted for comment.