Thames Water will continue to flush Wealdstone Brook over the summer months to prevent the build-up of smells

 Following reports on Wembley Matters about the problems in the Wealdstone Brook, Neil Levy, Thames Water field operations specialist said: 

 

We were made aware of suspected pollution in Wealdstone Brook and have been working hard to clean up the watercourse.

We first received reports of odour from the brook in March, however due to location of the watercourse, its steep banks and the large operational equipment and tankers we needed to use, we first had to ensure our engineers could safely carry out the work before they were able to flush and clean the river on Monday April 4th.

During the clean-up, our team found and removed waste including rotten food and bird seed and objects from the river, which we don’t believe came from the sewer system. There was also evidence of pollution from misconnected pipes, which allow household waste to get in to the surface water sewer rather than the foul network.

 

Over the summer months we’ll continue to flush the brook to help prevent the build-up of smells and we’ll continue to work with local councils and residents on tackling misconnected businesses and properties.

 

For information 

 

• Over the last eight years, Thames Water has spent over £500,000 in catchment investigations, sewer maintenance and repairs to reduce the pollution to Wealdstone Brook.
  
• Wastewater can unintentionally crossover from the foul to the surface through various methods, such as through defects in the sewers that can lead to wastewaster escaping through tiny holes and cracks, blockages or misconnected properties (when a residence incorrectly connects foul drains into a surface sewer).
• All household goods should be plumbed into the wastewater sewer network, so the water can be taken away and treated. Misconnected pipes from household appliances can allow wastewater to get in to surface water sewers, which are designed to hold rainwater and drain into natural watercourses. Find out more information about misconnections and how to avoid them.