Club News & Notices
Thames sewage petition
Aug 8, 2009
The health of our rivers is important to everyone, especially those of us who spend every spare hour on them. We have received the following emails about the state of sewage in the Thames. Please read and sign the petition!
To all non-Tideway clubs
Dear Captain/Secretary
As you know , your club took part in (at least) HORR 2009 , and quite possibly one or more of the other 7 Tideway Heads – the first of the next cycle will be the Pairs , on 17 October . If you are not based on or very near the Thames , you may well not be aware of the recurrent problem of sewerage in the Tideway , and whilst we can hope for some rain to dilute the problem over the coming couple of months and during the winter , the fact remains that traces are likely to remain year-round.
I am therefore copying to you a recent circular from a senior officer of the TRRC explaining the background a bit more , and would urge you (and your crews) to join the petition and bear in mind basic safety precautions when you next visit .
If you are no longer the club officer responsible , please pass this on to a safe pair of hands , and/or feel free to spread the word around your club . The TRRC webpages have more detailed information about precautions .
Regards
Andrew Ruddle
Hon Secretary, HORR
Dear All,
Some of you will be aware of the sewage which has been swilling around in the Tideway for most of the summer. Thames Water has been allowed to make sewage discharges but this has been going on for so long now that the TRRC has to raise the issue. The discharges are getting worse, Thames Water has just been allowed to under-invest for too long, and their proposals, which would have no effects for at least five years, would not fully address the problem.
This is not just a problem for Tideway people, it is also a problem for crews visiting the Tideway. There is some evidence that the people worst affected by infections caused by the sewage are those new to the Tideway, i.e. those starting rowing etc and visitors. Regulars seem to develop some resistance to the bugs floating around.
There is lots of lobbying going on, and an ‘epetition’ has been set up to complain about the sewage swilling around in the river. It would help if we can get all potential users of the Tideway to sign. Please help us, and yourselves by passing the link below to all and sundry among your contacts. Please ask clubs to get all their members, their parents, partners etc. and anyone around the clubs to complete it. The more people we have signing the more we are likely to get some pressure put on Thames Water.
The link is also on the Tideway Slug.
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/tidewaysewage/
Thanks for your help,
Bill Mitchell
(on behalf of the TRRC sewage group)