Tests are establishing the cause of the pollution
Alex Gurteen says he has seen sewage in Nonsuch park(Image: Alex Gurteen)
Thames Water and the Environment Agency are investigating a Ewell stream after a local man reported seeing gallons of sewage there. Alex Gurteen said he first smelt sewage last month leading him to go and investigate.
He told SurreyLive: “In late April, I smelt sewage in my local alleyway between Stoneleigh Park Road and Briarwood Junction. The stream is largely underground in this area but there’s an alleyway that goes under the railway line and briefly the stream is visible and I could see and smell sewage.
“I was just trying to work out how it got there.” His search took him a short distance to Nonsuch Park. He explained: “I went up that day and I didn’t notice it.
“I was at the wrong part. But then I went back again a few days later on April 21.”
Right opposite Briarwood Road, Alex said sewage had backed up clogging a small stream there. The keen runner said he found ‘gallons’ of sewage where a stream used to be.
He added: “I could tell by the colour of the water and I could even see literally raw bits of sewage deposits on the stream bank.
Alex says he could see and smell sewage(Image: Alex Gurteen)
“I was quite surprised to find it but I think the reason why no-one else had seen it is because it was a bit off the beaten track. There is a public footpath nearby but it’s extremely overgrown.
“Because it’s not rained much there’s no real natural water coming from the lake upstream. This is just sewage.”
Tests are still establishing the cause of the pollution. The stream is only a short distance away from a residential area, and within 5m of a busy road.
Alex is concerned about health complications that might come from anyone or anything interacting with the liquid. He believes there is quite a sewage issue in the area, stating: “You can literally see the sewage or whatever dripping down; directly into the stream and we’re talking gallons and gallons per day.
“When I was there, I managed to find a stick to try and dislodge it and I got the stream cleared two or three weeks ago. I came back there on Monday and it was back again.”
An investigation is ongoing in an attempt to establish what has polluted the stream, and tests have yet to determine that it is sewage. A Thames Water spokesperson said: “We are aware of a pollution issue in the Ewell area and are investigating the cause of this with the Environment Agency.
“We are currently awaiting test results to ascertain the cause of the pollution. Thames Water takes its responsibilities to monitor and maintain its wastewater network seriously and understands the concerns raised by local residents.”