Warning about sewage entering waters in London's green spaces

Following a sewage leak, people are being warned to stay away from a stream that runs through several green spaces in southwest London.

In a Post on X, Wimbledon and Putney Commons said “sewage had entered the Beverley Brook on Wimbledon Common”.

It added that Richmond Park and Barnes Common were also affected. Royal Parks issued a similar warning.

Thames Water said it was working to repair a burst main and was “using tankers to ensure there are no further leaks”.

The sign at Wimbledon and Putney Commons advised that “people and dogs should keep away from the stream, from Wimbledon Common and downstream”.

Beverley Brook is nine miles (14.4 km) long, according to the South East Rivers Trust.

A Thames Water spokesman said: “Our teams are working to repair a burst riser in the area and we are deploying tankers to ensure there is no further water leakage.”

“An assessment of what damage limitation measures need to be implemented will be made shortly.”

A Royal Parks spokesman said it had been informed that Thames Water had “experienced a sewage leak in the Kingston Hill area” and that “unfortunately part of this leak has reached Beverley Brook above Richmond Park via the surface water drainage network”.

“Thames Water attended the site to clarify the situation and the Environment Agency was informed,” they added.

“Any contamination will be discharged through the stream in due course, but we are monitoring the situation closely.”

“For health and safety reasons, we advise people and dogs to avoid the water.”

Sarah Olney, Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park, said: “The water from the Thames has been polluting our rivers and streams for years.

“After decades of underinvestment, their network is bursting at the seams, and our communities are the ones suffering.

“Beverley Brook is a haven for wildlife in south-west London, but with each new sewage accident we risk losing this special corner of London.”

She added that the previous Conservative government had “turned a blind eye to the crisis in the water sector for far too long”.

“Labour must urgently put Thames Water under special administration, clean up our rivers and start putting communities first.”

A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said: “This Government will never look the other way as water companies pump record amounts of wastewater into our rivers, lakes and seas.”

“We will tighten regulation, crack down on water companies and start cleaning up Britain's rivers, lakes and seas.”

The Special Water Measures Bill will be an immediate step to “tighten regulation to put an end to the unacceptable destruction of our waterways,” the spokesman added.

These include new powers to “prohibit the payment of bonuses to water polluters and to prosecute notorious lawbreakers,” it said.

The Conservative Party has been asked for comment.