- Sadiq Khan is currently campaigns for a record third term as Mayor of London
Sadiq Khan has boldly declared that he will make the Thames ‘swimmable’ in 10 years amid public fury at the five-fold increase in sewage being dumped in the river.
The Mayor of London described the capital’s river as a ‘national embarrassment’ as he announced his ‘moonshot plan’ to transform London’s waterways.
It comes as Khan’s French counterpart, Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris, claimed she would reopen the Seine to swimmers in time for the Olympics, which are due to take place later this year.
However, Khan’s claim will prove challenging as his own analysis, which was published earlier this year, showed an almost five-fold increase in the duration of sewage spills in London last year.
He said: ‘We won’t do this overnight. It will take us a few years to do – but the great thing is there’s an appetite from Londoners and campaigners.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has boldly claimed he will make the Thames ‘swimmable’ in ten years
City Hall analysis shows that the duration of sewage spills increased by almost five-fold last year for the same period in 2022
Mr Khan is campaigning for a record third consecutive term as Mayor of London
‘The levels of sewage that water companies are pouring into our rivers is a scandal. I will not stand by and allow this to continue.
‘As well as demanding clear action from Thames Water, I will launch an ambitious plan to make rivers in London swimmable within ten years.
‘This will include working with partners to reverse the damage to our rivers and waterways.’
He added: ‘We’ve made huge progress in cleaning up London’s air – exceeding expectations. Now it’s time to clean up our waterways too.’
City Hall analysis shows the instances of sewage flowing into London’s river in 2023 were almost five times the amount for the same period in 2022.
The stats show that between April and December 2023, Thames Water released sewage into London’s waterways for 6,590 hours, 11 minutes and 54 seconds.
And, in the six days between December 25 and December 31, sewage was dumped across the Thames Water network for 128 hours and 12 minutes – equivalent to 18 hours every day.
The discharges includes treated sewage and overflows of untreated sewage and storm water into rivers during high rainfall.
The Mayor of London, who is campaigning for a record third term, previously wrote to Thames Water’s new CEO Chris Weston urging him to get a grip on the situation.
Residents in the village of Bilbury – dubbed the most beautiful in England – took this photo of dead fish in the River Coln last year
Thames Water CEO Chris Weston (pictured) was appointed in January earlier this year
In one incident, sewage was discharged in the River Colne, a tributary of the Thames, for 55 hours straight
Khan also called on ministers to ‘stop turning a blind eye’ to the pollution in our rivers and demanded they in introduce tough penalties for water companies that pollute rivers.
Mr Khan, said: ‘London’s rivers are the arteries of our city. Frankly the current state of some of our rivers is appalling and only getting worse.
‘Thames Water urgently need to up their up their game, and get a grip of the situation. At the same time, ministers are standing by and letting more and more dirty sewage flow into our rivers.
‘We need tougher legislation that forces water companies to act as a matter of urgency.
‘While we’re making huge progress cleaning up London’s air and much of the capital’s environment, it’s a scandal that levels of sewage in our rivers are increasing at the same time.’