Water firm stops 'illegal spill' into sewage facility

Thames Water said a third party had caused the incident at Wheatley Sewage Treatment Works at the River Thame

A water firm has said it has identified and stopped an "illegal discharge" into one of its sewage networks.

Thames Water said a third party had caused the incident at Wheatley Sewage Treatment Works at the River Thame, Oxfordshire, which caused the treatment process to be "knocked out".

An Environment Agency spokesman said "a small number of dead fish" had been seen in nearby stream Wheatley Ditch.

The water firm said it would "pursue investigations into the source of the substance and ensure appropriate action is taken".

Thames Water said tankers had been deployed "to divert the wastewater flows to an alternative site in order to minimise the impact to the watercourse"

In a statement, Thames Water said it was carrying out "a full clean of the surrounding sewers and pumping station to ensure they are clean, clear, and free flowing".

"We have identified the source of the substance as a third-party disposal into the wastewater network, which we have now stopped," the statement reads.

"We have deployed tankers, to divert the wastewater flows to an alternative site in order to minimise the impact to the watercourse and we are working closely with the Environment Agency and local stakeholders during this time to ensure full recovery," the statement adds.

Earlier, Jake Morley, the firm's government engagement lead for North Thames Valley, said the works were "not designed to take this type of waste and treat it".

"We need to allow sites biological process time to recover," he said.

"Once the site has recovered, we can slowly remove the tankers and treat as normal at the site."

He said there was an indication that wildlife had been impacted.

The EA said specialist officers were investigating the pollution incident which happened on Sunday.

"A small number of dead fish were seen in Wheatley Ditch, a nearby stream. An official count continues," the spokesperson said.

"We are working with Thames Water to confirm the source and understand what happened."

They appealed for anyone with information on that or any other suspected pollution in the waterways to contact the agency.

Lib Dem Henley and Thame MP Freddie van Mierlo said he was "extremely concerned" by the incident reports.

"We don't yet know the full extent, but it's clear that something has gone badly wrong," he said.

"I've asked for urgent updates from Thames Water, and I'm grateful for the swift response from local councillors and community members.

"Once the facts are established, we must ensure that those responsible are held to account and that everything possible is done to restore the health of the river."

A Thames Water spokesperson said they would "pursue investigations into the source of the substance and ensure appropriate action is taken".