A new report has found that Channelsea River and River Lea in East London have ‘good to excellent’ water quality in accordance with Water Framework Directive classifications.
The report, by OHES Environmental, conducted on behalf of Thames Water, found the Channelsea and River Lea water quality can be classed as ‘good to excellent’, in accordance with Water Framework Directive classifications, which is unique for urban rivers of this type.
A separate survey by Ricardo plc shows that fish are thriving in Channelsea River, finding 14 fish species – a positive indicator of a healthy watercourse.
There have been no discharges of storm diluted sewage from Abbey Mills Pumping station since the building and commissioning of the £700 million Lee Tunnel in 2016.
Rating showcases what is to come for central London when Thames Tideway Tunnel is completed
The water company said the rating showcases what is to come for central London when the Thames Tideway Tunnel is completed in 2025.
The new study of the Channelsea River and surrounding watercourses in East London has found the water quality of the rivers are improving and they can be considered a good quality urban river system.
The study placed sondes,- water quality monitoring devices around the Channelsea and River Lea to record dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, and turbidity levels. These measurements were taken from November 2022 to May 2023.
The findings form part of Thames Water’s work to understand the existing ecology in the Channelsea River as the company prepares for the commissioning of the Thames Tideway Tunnel. The water quality report also establishes a baseline for water quality, prior to the connection of the Thames Tideway Tunnel to the Lee Tunnel.
Summer 2023 fish survey - positive indication of healthy river
In addition, a separate summer 2023 fish survey conducted by Thames Water and environmental consultancy, Ricardo plc, has also found 14 different species in the Channelsea River, indicating it is healthy and supports a wide variety of fish.
In total, 920 individual fish were captured this summer and measured using three different sampling techniques (fyke netting, seine netting and electrofishing), before being released back into the river. This follows a fish survey conducted in November 2022, by Ricardo, which found 12 species of fish in the watercourse, including a 10lb sea bass.
Tessa Fayers, Director of Waste for London at Thames Water, said:
“These amazing results highlight the positive impact our investment in upgrading our sewage treatment works and the building of the Lee Tunnel has had on the Channelsea River and surrounding watercourses. We’re proud to play our part in improving urban rivers such as the Channelsea and we continue to have an unprecedented amount of investment directed towards safeguarding rivers and streams across London and the Thames Valley. The completion of the Thames Tideway Tunnel, will also deliver a huge reduction in the discharges to the tidal River Thames in London and further improve the overall health of the river.”
Since the £700 million Lee Tunnel was built by Thames Water and commissioned in January 2016, the river water quality in the Channelsea and surrounding watercourses has improved, with no discharges of storm diluted sewage from Abbey Mills pumping station into the Channelsea since 2016.
The improvements have taken place alongside upgrades to increase the capacity of Thames Water’s five sewage treatment works, that discharge treated effluent in the tidal Thames. The largest of the five, Beckton sewage treatment works, can now treat 27 cubic meters of sewage per second in storm conditions.
When the Thames Tideway Tunnel is completed in 2025, it will also significantly reduce the frequency and volumes of storm discharges to the River Thames in central London, by intercepting polluting discharge points and taking the sewage to Beckton sewage treatment works, instead of flowing directly into the river.
The survey findings and information on the health of the River Lee and Channelsea River indicate there could be similar further improvements to the health and variety of wildlife in the River Thames in London, when the Thames Tideway Tunnel is fully operational.
Click here to download the water quality report
Click here to download the summer fish survey report
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