Thames Water 'flagship' chalk stream rated as poor
The firm says it has invested in the chalk stream and water quality is "influenced by a range of factors".
Thames Water, as part of its flagship chalk stream restoration project, has rated a Berkshire chalk stream, the River Pang, as poor in water quality, according to figures released by the Environment Agency on Thursday. The River Pang also failed a test for hazardous substances. In 2022, Thames Water initiated the Pang Flagship Chalk Stream Partnership, pledging restoration plans from 2025 to 2035, with an investment of £875,000.
Thames Water acknowledged various factors, such as farming, industry, road runoff, and extreme weather, influencing river water quality, requiring a coordinated approach to address these challenges. Ash Smith, a decade-long campaigner against waterway pollution, emphasized the need for a complete overhaul of the water industry's pollution practices, stressing that chalk streams are a precious resource, and proper treatment can result in healthy, beautiful, and thriving ecosystems.
An Environment Agency spokesperson highlighted the agency's commitment to restoring and protecting chalk streams like the River Pang, while attributing the reduction in fish numbers and types to barriers in river movement from the Thames to the Pang. Thames Water stressed its dedication to making the Pang catchment a leading example of successful partnership and community-led restoration, emphasizing that addressing river water quality requires a collective effort from all stakeholders.
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