Thames Water plea amid Oxford Port Meadow poo pollution row

The UK’s largest water company has said it cannot make waterways thrive alone, adding that farming, industry and other factors also play a part in river health.

The much-criticised company’s statement comes after Linda Smith, Sheriff of Oxford, wrote to Chris Weston CEO of Thames Water, earlier this week.

The Labour party politician, who is also the cabinet member for housing and communities, raised the issue of water quality in the River Thames and Wolvercote Mill Stream, which run next to Port Meadow.

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She said the waterway was given designated bathing water status in 2022, but since then it has consistently been rated as ‘poor’ due to elevated levels of faecal bacteria more commonly known as excrement or poo.

Ms Smith explained: “I understand that Thames Water are still reviewing data and investigating possible causes of these totally unacceptable levels of pollution, including assessing the impact of your assets on water quality.”

Linda Smith (Image: Andrew Walmsley)

However, she added that she was confused as to why no conclusions have yet been drawn considering that research has been happening for four years.

As such, the sheriff called on the company to share its plans for improving water quality at Wolvercote, and for how it is going to decrease the bacteria load going into the river from Cassington, Stanton Harcourt and Church Hanborough sewage treatment works, which are upstream from Port Meadow.

She said: “The people of Oxford take great interest in this matter and we should all be able to enjoy the river without fear of becoming ill.

“The ongoing pollution is also a threat to wildlife and the biodiversity of one of our most treasured open spaces.”

Drone shot of Cassington Sewage Treatment Works. Picture Witney Against Sewage Pollution (WASP)

Responding to this, Thames Water acknowledged that there is some evidence showing the potential for an impact on the bathing water from Cassington Sewage Treatment Works and UV treatment is being installed to tackle this.

However, the company also said that there are multiple other causes for river pollution including industry, animal faeces from livestock and wildlife, along with run off from farms and roads.

A Thames Water spokesperson said: “We have been carrying out investigations this bathing season to better understand our impact on the condition of the water and inform any actions we might need to take to improve our treatment processes.  

“This year, there have been no storm overflows from Thames Water sites within 5km of Wolvercote Mill Stream during the bathing season.  

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“We are always committed to seeing waterways thrive, but we can’t do it alone.

“Farming, industry, road runoff, and increasingly extreme weather also play a role in river health. 

“We will continue to work closely with the Environment Agency and local partners to understand where improvements to our assets might be required in future, so that communities can continue to enjoy the bathing water.”