A new £4.5billion super sewer has been greeted with optimism by London’s fishing community who hope it will clean up the water.
The city’s waterways have suffered from sewage and waste damaging their aquatic habitats for a long time.
London’s new super sewer, known as the Thames Tideway Tunnel, was fully connected to existing sewage network on 17 February and was designed to reduce combined sewer overflows across the city by 95% in a typical year, along with providing habitats for a range of aquatic wildlife in the area.
Angling Trust head of policy Martin Salter said: “It’s going to make a massive impact over the coming years to the health of the tidal river.
“We are expecting to see within a year less contamination on the London foreshore and hopefully an increase in wildlife.”
The tunnel stretches from Acton to Newham and cost the taxpayer approximately £4.5billion.
Sharon Langston, co-owner of Roman Tackle in Tower Hamlets, said: “There have been issues around this area over the last couple of years to do with sewage.
“Two spillages of one type or another got into the river and canal locally.
“[With the tunnel] there’ll be less of a loss of fish and people will be able to use [the waterways] more.”
During the fishing season, anglers can fish river species, like carp and trout, up to Putney Bridge on the Thames and sea bass or other marine creatures downstream of the O2 Arena, when North Sea waters flood inland twice a day.
London’s other rivers, canals and pond fisheries provide alternative spots for budding and seasoned anglers.
The River Wandle was one such location, until 4,000 litres of diesel leaked from a bus depot storage tank into the river on the 18 February.
Salter said: “It’s a real shame, because Wandle is a minor miracle as London’s only chalk stream.”
Picture Credit: Thames Tidefest
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