Wastewater Swap Sparks Thames Pollution Fears

Thames Water's plan to swap 75 million liters of River Thames water daily with treated wastewater has drawn strong opposition from environmental campaigners. The proposal involves taking water from the Thames above Teddington Weir and replacing it with highly treated wastewater from the Mogden Sewage Treatment Works. Save Our Lands And River (Solar) contends that the current proposals do not adequately filter out micropollutants, which can include pesticides and stimulants. Solar is advocating for the new treatment plant to meet stricter international standards, similar to those demanded by EU countries, to better protect water bodies and public health. The EU's urban wastewater directive mandates advanced treatment for micropollutants by 2045 for large plants. A petition launched by Solar urges the government to stop schemes built to outdated standards, citing risks of contaminant release and potential for future costly upgrades. Thames Water asserts the scheme, still in design, will meet Environment Agency standards and comply with all UK regulatory requirements. The company intends to apply for a development consent order in early 2027.