London's £5bn Thames Tideway Tunnel 'super sewer' has diverted 22 million tonnes of sewage since becoming operational two years ago, reducing spills by 86% and sewage-derived litter by 84 tonnes. However, Thames Water admits it has not conducted any bacterial or pathogen testing since full operation began in February 2025, offering no guidance on recreational safety. Independent monitoring by Fulham Reach Boat Club found no clear improvement in E. coli levels, with 62.5% of samples between February 2025 and October 2026 exceeding health risk thresholds.
Tideway argues water quality trends require multi-year data, citing tidal influences and upstream pollution sources. Campaigners question the project's value for money amid Ofwat using it as a model for future infrastructure.
Source: Financial Times Companies · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing