Study reveals 600 million litres of sewage pollute River Roding annually
The study identified unmonitored sources of sewage pollution due to sewer misconnections and faulty drainage
A citizen science study estimates that 600 million litres of sewage-contaminated water enter the River Roding and its tributaries each year, causing significant concerns for local wildlife and communities.
The River Roding rises in rural Essex before flowing through East London and joining the River Thames at Barking Creek.
Led by Thames21 and the River Roding Trust, the study identified unmonitored sources of sewage pollution due to sewer misconnections and faulty drainage infrastructure that discharge directly into the river.
Persistent discharges during dry weather, when rainfall is insufficient to dilute pollutants, can pose a serious threat to the river's health.
The report highlights Cran Brook as the major pollution hotspot due to faulty infrastructure and misconnections, prompting calls for urgent restoration measures including infrastructure repairs and nature-based solutions such as wetlands.
Thames21 and the River Roding Trust have urged Thames Water, the Environment Agency, and Redbridge Council to take swift action to rectify these issues
Chris Coode, CEO of Thames21, said: “This is a shocking amount of sewage-contaminated water. Six hundred million litres is a staggering figure and a disastrous threat to this precious river and its tributaries. Particularly concerning is the evidence of pollution entering the River Roding and its tributaries during dry weather. This highlights the urgent need for all river stakeholders to tackle misconnections and to identify and address the other sources of pollution entering the catchment."
He continued: "Our rivers deserve to be clean and healthy, yet these findings reveal an unacceptable threat to water quality, wildlife and local communities. The Environment Agency, Thames Water and Redbridge Council must take swift action to address the critical issues identified through this citizen science monitoring programme."
"There are, however, reasons for optimism. Evidence from the programme has contributed to improvements at Thames Water’s Winn Valley Pumping Station, demonstrating how citizen science, combined with innovative flow data, can help identify sources of river pollution. Continued collaboration between environmental charities, including Thames21 and the River Roding Trust, councils and water companies will be essential to restore the Roding and its tributaries as safe and healthy waterways for local communities and wildlife."
"The River Roding is now the first river in England where we know the location of all the illegal sewage outfalls"
Paul Powlesland, founder of the River Roding Trust, said: “The River Roding is now the first river in England where we know the location of all the illegal sewage outfalls and, crucially, can scientifically rank them in order of harm."
He added: "We now need Thames Water and the Environment Agency to fix the most damaging illegal outfalls as a matter of emergency. We also need the government to carry out a similar survey on every river in England; otherwise, how can we fix a problem we do not know the extent of?”
A Thames Water spokesperson said: "Thames21’s report highlights the serious impact on the environment caused when wastewater appliances are connected to the wrong drainage system."
They continued: "In the case of the Roding catchment, we have been undertaking a Surface Water Outfall Programme (SWOP) and have so far identified a large proportion of the area is showing signs of pollution, the majority of which are due to third-party misconnections in private households and buildings."
"Due to the size of the catchment, this programme may take up to a year to complete and will be dependent on owners granting us access for the survey or a ‘warrant of entry’ application being made to the court."
"Most misconnections will have been done entirely by accident but the responsibility remains with the property owner, which is why we would urge freeholders or developers fitting new connections to make sure that they’re plumbed in properly."