Swans Suffer from Mysterious River Contamination

On October 9th, 2025, a troubling situation has unfolded in a local community, as a mysterious oil-based substance has entered a river, affecting the swans that reside there. Wendy Hermon, the operations manager for Swan Support, has expressed her dismay over the incident, stating that "it's unacceptable" and that "these are living creatures" that are now being impacted.

The contamination has led to the swans being pulled from the river, washed, and returned, a process that Hermon believes is "not a nice thing for them." The concern extends beyond the visible effects on the swans' feathers, as Hermon points out that the swans are "actually swallowing the water as well" and that the impact on the fish in the river is also a cause for concern.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the source of the spill, with Thames Water stating that their "investigations suggest that an oil-based substance has entered the river via a roadside gulley, likely by a third party." The Environment Agency has also been contacted and is working closely with Thames Water to assess the environmental impact of the incident.

As the community grapples with this troubling situation, the focus remains on understanding the extent of the contamination and taking appropriate actions to mitigate the harm to the local wildlife and ecosystem.