'We don't want muck in our waters' - Fury over plan to dump treated sewage in UK river

Locals have blasted Thames Water’s plans to dump treated sewage in London's main river - but the company has aimed to address residents' concerns.

The Teddington Direct River Abstraction project forms part of the River Thames Scheme, which aims to shore up the capital’s water supply. Two new pipes will be constructed near Teddington Lock, a spot popular for recreation, where the non-tidal Thames ends.

The water company has projected it will need an extra one billion litres every day by 2050 due to population and climate pressures. Under the proposals water will be piped from a station near Teddington weir to the Lee Valley, East London.

Sustaining the river level, treated wastewater will also flow from Mogden Sewage Treatment Works, having been subject to three stages of cleaning, entering the Thames just downstream of the Lee-bound inlet.

Residents of the affluent suburb fear proposals will jeopardise water quality, as the project went to public consultation last month. People will be able to have their say under the process until August 26.

As a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, this is one of its first hurdles before planning approval. Expected to open in 2033, ministers will ultimately decide whether it gets the green light.

But some local residents are not convinced by the proposals. Lee Greed, manager of the Royal British Legion Teddington club, said: “We don’t want muck in our waters.”

“This is where the little boats used at Dunkirk came from. They all started here,” he added.

Mr Greed pointed out this stretch of the Thames also served as the starting point for the boat which carried Sir Winston Churchill’s coffin in 1965. For the retired veteran, this history should exempt the area from intrusive and potentially damaging infrastructure.

He is particularly concerned by the effect of construction. Thames Water’s own brochure has said 57,762 HGV journeys will be made across the four building sites under a “reasonable worst-case scenario”. Teddington ward councillor Richard Baker said the company chose the “cheapest option”, out of 1,400 considered. He said: “Money has been pushed upstream to its owners.”

Mr Baker thinks Thames Water should go back to the drawing board, and opt for a plan which is more sensitive to locals’ concerns about pollution and visual blight.

Dianne Yarlett, whose women’s clothing shop Nova Fortuny has called Teddington High Street home since 2006, said: “They are taking our water. It is our water.”

Upset by the prospect of water being abstract from her patch of the Thames, Ms Yarlett also said she had no faith in Thames Water’s ability to clean the replacement water sufficiently. Despite this, Thames Water has revealed that "clean, highly treated water" will be used, in order to protect river levels and the local environment.

Locals have been brought together in their opposition to the new pipeline by the Save our Lands and River campaign (SOLAR), a local group which says it is “focused on stopping Thames Water's TDRA scheme” and whose statement of opposition has 102 signatories across Teddington, Twickenham and Richmond.

Jade Wanden, SOLAR’s marketing manager, said: “We are the voice of London on this subject.

“And we just feel in 2025 we should be making our rivers cleaner and not dirtier.”

Despite Thames Water’s assurances about “tertiary treatment”, one step short of that required for a drinkable product, Wanden is not convinced.

She said: “I just don’t think there is a situation where they would achieve that at all.”

SOLAR’s demonstration last Saturday had more than 600 attendees, including the local MP, Liberal Democrat Munira Wilson.

Ms Wilson has said: “Local residents have real concerns… and their concerns simply haven't been answered.”

Marlene Lawrence, founder of a wild swimming group with almost 1,900 members, the Teddington Blue Tits, said: “We started demonstrating against the Thames Water plans almost immediately. The implications of what they are doing to the river has horrified us."

Ms Lawrence is concerned over a relatively clean part of the river, just before the weir and lock, only ever having once cancelled a session because of pollution, will be ruined.

“That area of the river is so well used by families, and I know… it will not be safe to swim because they cannot remove all the forever plastics and chemicals,” she said.

Many locals knew nothing or little of the plans. Even Environment Agency staff working at Teddington Lock were none the wiser.

Not all residents are up in arms. Laurence Mann, a lawyer and secretary of the North St Margaret's Residents' Association, speaking in a personal capacity, said: “I would support the idea behind the scheme.”

He said water recycling is a proven practice.

Robin Field-Smith, who serves on St. Mary with St. Alban’s parochial church council, said he was also withholding judgment on the scheme until he was clear about the ecological impact.

Myles Rawstron-Rudd, Project Manager at Thames Water, said: “This project will protect water supply for millions of Londoners, providing up to 75 million litres of water each day during periods of drought…

“We’ll replenish the river with clean, highly treated water, protecting river levels and the local environment. Local communities also have our absolute assurance that this project will not negatively impact river quality, as we’ll be meeting strict environmental standards to ensure the water is safe and ready to return to the river.

“We’re also confident that this project is the right one, having explored over 1,400 options. Not only does it deliver the best value for our customers, but it is less carbon intensive than other options we considered. The project also makes use of existing Thames Water infrastructure, helping to minimise construction impacts on local people.

“We’re listening to communities every step of the way and would encourage local people who are concerned to attend one of in person or online events this month. They will be able to speak to the team, ask questions and find out more about the project. People can also share their feedback as part of our statutory consultation which is running until Tuesday 26 August 2025.”