Call for targets to make capital's rivers swimmable

Conservationists say the River Roding illustrates the challenges of cleaning London's waterways

Clear targets must be set by the mayor of London to make the capital's rivers safe for swimming, a report by the London Assembly has said.

Among its other recommendations, the Environment Committee also wants tougher enforcement on sewage pollution and 10 new natural bathing water sites by 2034.

The River Roding Trust, which has been among the groups long calling for action on pollution, says there needs to be reform in how rivers are looked after.

City Hall has said the mayor is "committed to cleaning up and protecting London's waterways" and Thames Water has said it is delivering "record levels of investment" which will "cut sewage discharges into the tidal Thames by 95%".

At the river Roding in east London, sewage levels cause poor readings.

Barrister Paul Powlesland, of the River Roding Trust, tested an outfall pipe with an ammonia checker which quickly maxxed out, proving there was sewage present.

There only should be been rainwater flowing from this type of pipe, said Mr Powlesland.

"That means it's at least 9.99 parts per million ammonia and that means that's raw sewage.

"We really shouldn't be seeing levels like that on the river in London."

Paul Powlesland, of the River Roding Trust showing Helen Drew testing the water quality of the river Roding

The ammonia checker maxxed out at 99.9, Paul said

Mr Powlesland believes the Roding needs a dedicated body to care for it.

"There's different agencies that do one thing and another thing," he said.

"At the moment, we don't have one group whose sole focus is love and care for the river."

In August an investigation by the Local Democracy Reporting Service discovered that more than 2,000 properties across London were illegally pumping raw sewage directly into rivers due to drainage misconnections.

A spokesperson for the mayor said work is under way to reduce sewage pollution and "addressing the issue of misconnections to make our rivers something that every Londoner can be proud of".

Other community groups have said cleaner waterways would benefit people as well as wildlife.

At the Laburnum Boat Club in Hackney, which runs canoeing sessions on the Regent's Canal, one coach said: "It's very important, especially watching the smiles on young people's faces just getting to come out and paddle in all weather."

Other recommendations in the report include more sustainable drainage, and real-time monitoring of water quality.

In terms of the new bathing sites, the committee has called for four to be established by 2028 and a further six by 2034 and a clear delivery plan for them.

The report stated: "These should be geographically distributed across the capital, where possible, starting with river locations which are already used for recreation."

It also wants the GLA to work with Thames Water and other partners to reduce sewage pollution, including from sewer overflows and misconnections and for key actions to be set out between now and 2034.

Zack Polanski, the committee's chair and new Green Party leader, said in the report's foreword: "A wealthy city should not be embarrassed as London is by sewage in rivers.

"This is the time for an ambitious plan that ensures clean rivers in the coming years, and for future generations."

The report calls for 10 new bathing sites to be established by 2034

Thames Water said it was delivering record levels of investment and highlighted the £4.6bn Thames Tideway Tunnel, which it said would cut sewage discharges into the tidal Thames by 95%.

The company added that pollution was also affected by farming, industry, road run-off and extreme weather, and said transparency was "at the heart" of its work.

Sir Sadiq Khan has pledged to make London's rivers swimmable by 2034, calling their current state a "national embarrassment".