Update on Thame Water's clean-up of the Wealdstone Brook

From Thames Water 

Wealdstone Brook Pollution Update

Date: 27 May 2022 Watercourse clean

• Discharge of the fatty/oil waste from the Becmead Outfall has indicatively been reducing over the past week. Booms have been placed in the culvert upstream to limit ingress into the Brook. Routine pump-outs of the booms will be undertaken to prevent build-up. Please advise if any build up bypasses the booms and Thames Water Operations will pump-out.

• A programme for routine flushing has now been finalised and is planned to start on 27 May. Currently this is planned once per week at two locations in the Brook with the aim to scale up/down based on weather conditions.

  Investigations to find the source of the Pollution:

• The discharge of the fatty/oil waste from the Becmead Outfall is indicatively reducing. Mitigation is in place to prevent further ingress into Brook.

• The Investigation crew is completing checks of the culvert, foul and surface network near Kenton Lane to establish if there are any other significant sources of pollution contributing to the issue, specifically sewage.

• A 24 hr telemetry sonde has been installed downstream of the Becmead Outfall as part of the investigation to confirm the source the fatty/oily waste.

  Next steps

• Thames Water Operations to continue monitor the discharge at Becmead closely over the next week to confirm any reduction in fat discharges. Booms and sandbags now placed in the culvert to minimise further discharge.

• Pump-out of the booms when necessary to minimise odour

• Further flushing and cleaning of the brook is planned to minimise the odour.

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  Next update: Latest Tuesday 31 May

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