Water alert village demands fuel leak action plan

Station Road in Bramley is closed and residents are dealing with traffic disruption

People in a village where a petrol leak led to a drinking water alert a week ago have demanded an action plan to clean up the fuel that has "migrated" to the High Street.

More than 600 properties in Bramley, Surrey, were given do-not-drink notices last week after elevated levels of hydrocarbons were found.

It followed a fuel leak from a petrol filling station owned by Asda, which said it had inherited the problem when it bought the site.

Thames Water is replacing pipes and delivering bottled water and Asda said it recognised the impact and was working to resolve the situation.

Helen Melia, from Bramley Residents’ Action Group (Brag), said: “The concern remains at the moment that there is no plan in place to clean up the petrol that’s migrated off the petrol station site and into Bramley."

She said: “They’ve got a pump and treat system on the site itself.

“But from what I’ve heard, talking to people about a pump and treat system, it’s not going to magically draw all the petrol that’s gone off down the High Street back on to the site, so we really do need them to put in place a plan.”

Asda is carrying out work on the filling station and Thames Water is replacing pipes

Asda says, so far, it has pumped over 125,000 litres of contaminated water from the ground and cleaned it to Thames Water standards and that over 100 litres of neat petrol have been recovered.

The remedial system would continue to pump and treat groundwater and a stream's water quality had improved, the company said.

Asda also said it would continue to work with other utility companies and affected parties regarding fuel under and around the High Street.

Work at the petrol filling station has included inspections of fuel tanks, fuel lines and pumps and relining or replacing as necessary, the company said.

An Asda spokesman said: “We recognise the impact this has had on the residents of Bramley and share their frustrations. We are committed to working with all parties to resolve this situation as quickly as possible.”

A church has closed because of the disruption but is still holding a Sunday service

Do-not-drink notices from Thames Water have gone to 617 properties in the village.

Householders have been told not to drink, cook, or brush teeth with the tap water, or wash up with it, or give it to pets, even if it has been boiled.

Thames Water has said the water is safe for washing and flushing toilets.

A bottled water station is open at Artington Park & Ride, Guildford and bottled water is being delivered to properties.

The company, which is replacing pipes in now-closed Station Road, says it expects work to be completed by 21 June.