Thames sets out river restoration plans

Thames Water has begun work to restore the rivers Chess, Evenlode and Crane within its catchment as part of its commitment to improve the water environment across its region.

For the River Chess, the plans set out a 10-year commitment to boost biodiversity and address water quality issues. The £3 million project will include increasing urban drainage to tackle runoff, and designing and implementing nature-based solutions. Thames will re-line a stretch of its sewer network to prevent infiltration of the water.

Together with other water companies in the south of England, Thames promised to improve the flow and biodiversity of chalk streams by reducing abstraction and working with conservation groups and local stakeholders including citizen scientists.

The south of England is home to 85 per cent of the world’s 260 chalk streams, with nine of them located in the Chiltern Hills.

To address low flow levels and water quality issues, Thames has scheduled improvements to its sewage treatment plant at Chesham to reduce discharges as it works towards eliminating them. Plans to close water pumping stations in the area in 2025 will reduce pressures on the chalk stream from abstraction and, together with Affinity Water and Water Resources South East, will find sustainable approaches to improve flow.

Richard Aylard, sustainability director at Thames, said: “We are keen to play our full part in protecting and enhancing this precious resource. Working in partnership with local stakeholders we’ve set out our plans to protect the Chess’s vulnerable and ecologically significant chalk stream environment, by reducing abstraction and improving water quality through a major expansion of our Chesham sewage works.”

He added that the company’s approach to smarter water catchments was designed to collaborate with the people who best know their local rivers.

The project will run to 2030/31 with monitoring and improvements continued as the company plans for AMP9 from 2035-40.

Paul Jennings from the River Chess Association said: “Fundamental issues surrounding water volume and quality are being addressed and work is well underway with cooperation from Thames Water and Affinity Water. Working with local authorities and the farming community we will be addressing urban and arable runoff. In addition, we will be working with community groups to provide greater access to the river and educate the next generation of river enthusiasts.”