Thames Water started releasing sewage from its Oxford treatment works yesterday afternoon.
Oxford Thames Sewage Alerts, an automatic notification Twitter account, said a release started at 13:30 on 03/01/2023.
It said: “We’ll notify you at 06:00 tomorrow morning if the release is still happening.”
Thames Water has apologised for recurring sewage releases near Oxford over Christmas.
Sewage release alerts for Witney Sewage Treatment Works were posted from a automatic notification Twitter account five times.
We wanted to let you know about an ongoing sewage release at OXFORD STW. The release started at 13:30 on 03/01/2023.
We’ll notify you at 06:00 tomorrow morning if the release is still happening.https://t.co/tofkTYj18t
— Oxford Thames Sewage Alerts (@OxThamesSewage) January 4, 2023
There was also a three-hour storm overflow from Church Hanborough on December 27.
Pop star turned environmental activist Feargal Sharkey retweeted the Witney alert with the comment: “There are only 2 small stretches of river in England officially designated as bathing water. This is one of them.”
He was referring to the fact that Castle Mill Stream, a backwater of the Thames at Port Meadow, was granted bathing water status by DEFRA in April.
But by November the county’s only official swimming spot had failed bacteria safety tests.
Thames Water have been contacted.
This story was written by Miranda Norris, she joined the team in 2021 and covers news across Oxfordshire as well as news from Witney.
Get in touch with her by emailing: Miranda.Norris@newsquest.co.uk. Or find her on Twitter: @Mirandajnorris
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