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Thames Water bosses warn of sewer flooding problems

By Hugh Fort
March 22, 2013

Water bosses are warning more heavy rain could spell trouble for sewers near flooding hotspots.

Groundwater levels are at a record high and Thames Water is warning rainwater will not have anywhere to go other than into the already full underground sewers.

Bob Collington, Thames Water’s head of operational control, said: “This winter has been a tough challenge and there’s no let-up in sight yet.

“With more rain forecast, we’re having to ensure our tankers are removing the excess flows in areas prone to flooding so our customers' homes are protected.

“Our sewers were only ever intended to take away wastewater from homes and business, not river water and groundwater too.”

The tankers are being used to provide a short-term fix for the overloaded areas of Thames Water's sewer network ahead of planned long-term solutions starting soon

Mr Collington added: “Although the bulk of the work on inspecting the state of the sewers cannot be done until they have less water in them, we have already started looking at what we can do to mitigate against this kind of problem in future.

“Our engineers are working on potential solutions and have already started to identify areas with the most severe problems and in some cases, we have been able to start improvement works already.

“We are committed to putting long-term solutions in place and we are working with the Environment Agency and local authorities to make sure we get this right.”

For more information and a video update, visit www.thameswater.co.uk/flooding

This weather forecast is generated by the Met Office Weather Widget

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Most recent user comments 9 of 9

nothing to do with the hosepipe ban of last year then ! no no blames someone or something else a?

they got it wrong, hands up please.

rogerjolly, reading
25/03/2013 at 11:30

Building on the flood plains may be one thing, getting any houses insured may well be something else too scary to look at!

Dada, Reading
24/03/2013 at 23:00

@Bugleman "kings meadow time to build some more houses on the floodplains"

Can you imagine what it is going to be like between Sindlesham Mill and Winnersh when they build that massive development near the Loddon? Not to mention the further traffic chaos the developers are going to inflict upon us!

Democracy Not Autocracy, Reading
24/03/2013 at 18:15

Even when TW are being proactive and trying to stave off potential flooding, the same old people feel the need to moan and whine.

The Racing Snake
23/03/2013 at 15:50

Love to know how much it is costing Thames Water (and us next year on our bills) to keep the fleet of tankers going that are based full time at Playhatch roundabout

Rogergrumps
23/03/2013 at 13:02

kings meadow time to build some more houses on the floodplains

bugleman, reading
23/03/2013 at 09:53

AndyMan, your point is one that our planners seem reluctant to take fully on board.

Tens of thousands of extra houses that planners wish to inflict on East Berkshire will need substantial extra water resources and a fit-for-purpose distribution network (not in place). Development will also overload and threaten the integrity of an ageing wastewater system (with no serious money available to overhaul it, never mind provide the radical upgrade that it needs).

And extreme weather events, flash floods etc are predicted to become ever more frequent.

Scary.