Sewage found in chalk streams across Bucks
A cross-party review group pointed the finger at water companies and the Environment Agency
Last updated 16th Nov 2022
Sewage and large pollutants are being detected in rivers and rare chalk streams across Bucks.
A report carried out by the county council’s transport, environment, and climate change select committee found five of Buckinghamshire’s unique chalk streams that provide pure, clear water are polluted with sewage and other pollutants from the roads, such as oil, fluids, etc.
The cross-party review group pointed the finger to the water industry for being the single biggest contributor towards poor water quality in the Thames Basin.
It also found it is ‘extremely challenging’ for the council to locate the correct contacts within the Environment Agency (EA) when there are watercourse contamination concerns as Buckinghamshire sits across three geographical areas of the EA.
The council has said it does not have responsibility for water quality but will lobby water companies and the EA on polluted watercourses in the county.
It has vowed it will ask Anglian Water and Thames Water to submit annual reviews on reducing pollution into the water course and improvements to Bucks infrastructure.
Council leader Martin Tett will also write to the Environment Secretary over the council’s concerns with the EA about the lack of engagement, and the discharge of its statutory functions and conduct.
Councillor Gareth Williams, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment, said: “When the Government’s own Environmental Audit Committee concluded that every single river in England is contaminated, it was extremely clear to us we needed to understand what that means for Buckinghamshire’s rivers and chalk streams. This has been a vital piece of work and I thank the Select Committee for their hard work in pulling this detail together.
“It is essential we understand the full situation to lobby groups hard on behalf of our residents to improve the quality of our precious watercourses. Our rivers and chalk streams are an essential part of the fabric of Buckinghamshire and their importance cannot be over-stated.
“It’s a matter of urgency that this work is given priority by water companies and the Environment Agency and that we start to see real change and deliverable solutions to improve water quality in Buckinghamshire.”