sewage leak has killed off fish shares alongside a three-mile stretch of a Thames tributary.
The incident, on the River Ray, occurred over the weekend after a sewerage pipe burst close to Swindon, Thames Water mentioned.
The Angling Belief, which represents anglers and campaigns for fish conservation in England, has demanded Thames Water present a “full clarification”.
In an announcement, the belief mentioned an preliminary investigation by the Atmosphere Company fisheries workforce recommended that there was an virtually complete wipe-out of fish populations and different invertebrates within the bulk of the river.
It’s utterly unacceptable to see the identical river being devastated by the identical water firm in the identical location twice in 20 years
Greater than 2,000 lifeless fish had been counted within the sampling space, together with massive chub, pike and barbel, it added.
Thames Water was fined for a sewage leak on the River Ray in June 2003 which was thought to have brought on the demise of 8,000 fish.
Angling Belief head of coverage Martin Salter mentioned: “It’s utterly unacceptable to see the identical river being devastated by the identical water firm in the identical location twice in 20 years.
“We now have sought full incident studies from each Thames Water and the Atmosphere Company and have instructed solicitors to take no matter motion is critical to safe the funds to revive the river and its wildlife.
“This is able to be along with any prison prosecutions which should certainly observe such a severe air pollution.”
We’re working with the Atmosphere Company to verify the river returns again to regular as quickly as we will
A Thames Water spokesperson mentioned: “Defending the surroundings is prime to what we do and we’re unhappy to say the air pollution attributable to a burst pipe close to Hayden Finish sewer pumping station has brought on the demise of fish within the River Ray.
We’re working with the Atmosphere Company to verify the river returns again to regular as quickly as we will.
“The damaged sewer pipe has now been repaired and we’ll quickly begin to transfer our tankers, which had been deployed so we may take away wastewater whereas we fastened the pipe, out of the world.
“The air pollution from the burst reached so far as the confluence between the River Ray and the River Thames, and we have now put aeration cannons into the water to scale back any affect of the air pollution.
“Our environmental scientists have discovered no proof that the air pollution has brought on any environmental injury to the River Thames.
They’ve been finishing up additional assessments from the River Thames again to the supply of the air pollution to allow them to see how the river is recovering.”
Supply hyperlink
