Mayor Brings Together Partners to Clean Up London’s Rivers
Mayor of London press release, 18 September 2024
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, visited the landmark Tideway project today as he committed to bringing together partners to clean up London’s rivers in the next 10 years.
Joined by the Rt Hon Steve Reed MP, the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Sadiq said he is determined to clean up London’s rivers just like he’s done with London’s air.
The 25km Thames Tideway tunnel, which will become fully operational in 2025, will protect the river from sewage pollution with transformational environmental benefits. Sitting above the new infrastructure, Tyburn Quay, which Sadiq and Steve Reed visited today, is one of seven new riverside public spaces, offering never-before-seen views of the city.
City Hall analysis shows that five times more sewage flowed into London’s rivers in 2023 compared to the previous year, with many species in decline. In his manifesto, Sadiq committed to working with partners to transform London’s rivers, building thriving ecosystems and delivering waterways that are clean and safe enough to swim in.
Harnessing the power of partnerships and working with local communities, the Mayor will bring together companies, government agencies, charities and campaigners to develop and deliver an ambitious 10-year plan to clean up London’s waterways and support a diverse range of wildlife. He will continue to push Thames Water to address damaging sewage spills, expand the installation of sustainable drainage systems, tackle sewer misconnections, and fund reedbeds and other solutions that naturally filter the water in London’s rivers.
As part of his pledge, the Mayor is calling on a range of key stakeholders – from WWF UK and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), to Thames Water and borough leaders – to sign a commitment to work with him to increase London’s biodiversity and use a nature-first approach to clean up the city’s waterways. The last two years have seen the successful reintroduction of beavers in Ealing and Enfield – and Sadiq hopes this will be just the start of a nature revival in London.
Sadiq will also use the opportunity of the Thames Tideway Tunnel, which as part of the London Tideway Improvements will reduce sewage discharge in the tidal Thames by around 95%, to make further progress in cleaning up all of London’s waterways, using natural solutions whenever possible. In doing so, the Mayor will prioritise increasing London’s nature and opening up new areas for Londoners to walk, paddle and swim.
This follows the Secretary of State’s announcement that funding for vital infrastructure like the Tideway project will now be ringfenced so that it can only be spent on upgrades that benefit customers and the environment – not diverted to pay bonuses, dividends or salary increases. This means that where money for investment is not spent, companies will have to refund customers.
The new Government also published this month the landmark Water (Special Measures) Bill, which will deliver a strong regulatory playing field to help improve water quality and create the conditions to attract billions of private-sector investment.
The Mayor’s new London Open Water Swimming Guide was also launched today to help Londoners find out where they can currently swim outdoors and highlight where it might be possible in the future.