Giant blockage found in Gloucestershire river

Campaigners call for action to be taken against pollution

A giant blockage has been discovered in a river in Gloucestershire, prompting a clean rivers campaigner to call for more action against water pollution. 

The clump was found hanging from a pipe next to a sewage outlet in the in the River Coln at Fairford, which has allegedly been dumping untreated sewage into the stream during heavy rainfall.

Thames Water identified the blockage as limescale build-up, adding that it was coming from a pipe which is not their responsibility. 

The agency added that it has reported the blockage to the local authority and the Environment Agency, who will be able to establish responsibility for the pipe.

Although the water coming from nearby sewage works at Fairford is supposed to be treated before it is released into the waterway, heavy rains means it reportedly floods into the pristine river with it sewage and paper debris mixed into it.

Campaigner Ashley Smith of Windrush Against Sewage Pollution had been tracking the effluent released into the river when he discovered the large clump hanging off the second pipe.

Mr Smith told ITV: “We're ruining the environment for the next generation. We're ruining it for ourselves. There has to be a better way. It's far too cheap to pollute.”

A report recently found that water companies discharged raw sewage into the sea near bathing water beaches in England and Wales almost 3,000 times in the past year, leading to at least one person requiring emergency medical treatment due to becoming ill while in the water.

A  fatberg weighing 10 tonnes was discovered in a sewer in central London in late October. In response, Thames Water asked people to be careful about which items they flush down toilets and pour down sinks.  

In 2019, the agency cleared fatbergs weighing a total of 140 tonnes from Greenwich, Pall Mall and the Shard.