Environment Agency launches campaign to improve River Wandle water quality

The Environment Agency has launched a week-long campaign in south London with the aim of educating businesses about pollution control around the River Wandle.

Its primary concern is with urban diffuse pollution, which is caused by a number of sources and is usually widespread within a particular river catchment area.

Industry, atmosphere and households can all contribute, with some pollution sources being small things, such as drips from an oil tank that can flow into the waterway or be absorbed into the ground.

The agency is targeting businesses around the River Wandle because the tributary of the Thames was identified as a pollution hotspot and, under the EU water framework directive, it is failing to achieve good ecological potential.

Tom Haysler, project manager and environment officer, commented: "Diffuse pollution from industrial estates is a common and serious problem."

Lack of knowledge about the premises often means that potentially harmful substances find their way into water system drains rather than those connected to the fowl sewer, he explained.

In 2008, the Environment Agency recorded 14,924 minor pollution incidents in the UK.

Posted by Joseph Hutton