We were delighted to see that the Government has officially announced that a stretch of the River Thames at Ham and Kingston is being designated for Public Bathing Status. This is a historic milestone. If approved, this would become the first-ever official river bathing site in London.
What This Means for Us
Designation isn’t just a fancy title; it is a powerful tool for accountability. Once a site is designated, the Environment Agency is legally required to:
- Monitor Water Quality: Regular testing for harmful bacteria (like E. coli) will take place throughout the bathing season (May to September).
- Provide Transparency: Results must be displayed publicly, allowing swimmers, paddleboarders, and families to make informed decisions about entering the water.
- Drive Investment: If the water quality doesn’t meet the required standards, it puts immense legal and public pressure on Thames Water to investigate and fix the sources of pollution.
The Fight Isn’t Over: We Need Your Voice!
While today’s announcement is a massive win, it is technically still a proposal. The Government has launched a six-week public consultation to decide whether to finalize this status. We cannot take this for granted. The water companies and developers are watching. We need to show the overwhelming level of local support for a clean, safe river. Please take five minutes to respond to the consultation. Your voice is the evidence the Government needs to ensure Ham and Kingston get the protection they deserve.
The Bigger Picture: Why the “Sewage Pump” is Still a Threat
At Save Our Lands and River (SOLAR), we are celebrating this news, but we are also staying vigilant. To us, this designation is another clear indicator of why the flawed Teddington Direct River Abstraction (TDRA) scheme, better known to many of us as the “Thames Sewage Pump“, is a fundamentally bad idea.
Thames Water wants to take millions of litres of fresh water out of the river and replace it with “treated” effluent (sewage) from the Mogden works. We believe this scheme is a direct contradiction to the goal of achieving “Good” or “Excellent” bathing water status.
The flaws are clear:
- Chemical Concerns: The “recycled” water can contain “forever chemicals” (PFAS) and higher temperatures that threaten the delicate river ecosystem.
- Construction Destruction: The scheme involves heavy construction on our precious Ham Lands, a Metropolitan Site of Importance for Nature Conservation.
- The Wrong Solution: Why pump treated sewage into our river when Thames Water should be focused on fixing the 630 million litres of water lost to leaks every single day?
Designating Ham and Kingston for bathing status proves that the public values this river for health and recreation. Pumping effluent into a designated bathing site is not just a bad engineering choice; it’s an insult to the community. As SOLAR we want to thank Marlene, Simon and Rebecca who have spearheaded this application.
Next Steps
- Respond to the Consultation: Click here to complete a short, simple questionnaire
- Spread the Word: Share this post with your neighbors and local clubs.
- Join SOLAR: Stay updated on our fight against the TDRA scheme and help us protect the Thames for generations to come.