Sewage spills on to public path as treatment works overwhelmed by flood water

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. He said progress to upgrade the works is too slow and that during a tour by Thames Water he saw sludge tanks leaking, in what he described as a “huge embarrassment” for the company. “It pours out of the sewage works across a public footpath down a ditch – and it really is quite a torrent when it gets going – and it ends up crossing what is dog-walking territory, open public space, very close to West Vale housing estate.” He added that as the facility is unmanned, it is up volunteers to monitor river levels and report any pollution. “In the meantime, we have installed a temporary over-pump to help reduce flooding on the footpath and will be carrying out a clean-up of the area when water levels recede.” The company did not say how it categorised previous pollution incidents at the works but Mr Collins said one previous floods was recorded by the Environment Agency as a category 4 incident, which means it had no impact. “We’re the first company to provide live alerts for all untreated discharges throughout our region, and this near real-time data is available to customers as a map on our website and is also available through an open data platform for third parties, such as swimming and environmental groups, to use.” An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “We are aware of the ongoing situation at Horley sewage treatment works which is completely unacceptable.