Tag Archives: Thames Water

Thames Water sewer flooding surveys under way

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Heard from Thames Water today that their Oxford flooding questionnaire team has been out and about making visits and gathering information from householders – by the end of today all Oxford Phase 1 sites should have had at least one visit: three visits will be made in total to try to catch people that are out.  So far, 126 Sewer Flooding Questionnaires have been completed.

Phase 2, to follow, comprises Lower Wolvercote, North Hinksey Lane, South Hinksey and Upper Road.

Great that this is moving ahead – we look forward to hearing the results in due course.

Sewer survey starts soon

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Oxford has had serious problems with sewer flooding for years, mainly at times of river flooding. Now Oxford has been chosen by Thames Water as one of only a handful of places in their region to have this investigated in detail, so they can decide how best to go about making real improvements.

Surveys of the sewers themselves have been under way for some time. Now, within the next two or three weeks, representatives from Thames Water will begin to knock on doors in areas of Oxford and environs that have experienced sewer flooding of house or garden, or toilets that will not flush during floods. The more that Thames Water know about the problems the better they will be able to solve them, so we urge everyone to give as much information as they can. This really is a big chance to see things improve.

We will post more details as they become available.

Thames Water’s Oxford (sewer) Catchment Study – meeting

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Two of us met with two people from Thames Water today. Thames Water are getting on with the first stages of their Oxford Catchment Study, designed to find out why we get sewer flooding in many parts of Oxford. Some technical studies have already been done, house to house interviews with residents in affected areas will begin quite soon. A dedicated website should be up and running shortly, possibly as early as next week.

We are delighted that this study is happening – Oxford is one of only five places in Thames Water’s area to be having such a detailed study. This is a necessary first stage in, hopefully, getting action to remedy the problems. We are helping in any way we can.

This study will be used, along with other evidence, to guide Thames Water when they consider how much the proposed Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme would help solve sewer problems – and hence, presumably, how much they could consider contributing to that multi-partner scheme.

Thames Water agree how important it is that when new building is proposed that there is adequate prior consideration given, i.e. at the planning stage, to whether the sewer system will be able to cope.

Sewer survey

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Thames Water is asking members of OFA Steering Group and OFA Allies to help in their comprehensive survey of sewers in the Oxford area by being area representatives. Nick Hills, Angela MacKeith, Brian Durham, Adrian Porter, Richard Thurston and John Mastroddi will be involved.

We’ve suggested Thames Water contact OFA Allies in Wolvercote, Wytham and Binsey as well.

8th Annual Public Meeting

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APM 2014 welcome13 November 2014

Our 8th Annual Public Meeting attracted a good audience, including local politicians. This year we had three guest speakers as well as presentations from OFA on matters concerning local areas.

John Copley and Barry Russell were made OFA Flood Stars. John has expertly chaired the Oxford Area Flood Partnership since its inception in 2007. Working behind the scenes, he and the partnership have achieved a very great deal in this time. Meanwhile, a well known presence in his waders in every recent flood, Barry, from the Environment Agency, is a key figure in managing flooding on the ground. He has also been involved in many of the flood prevention measures taken here in recent years. We are immensely grateful to them both for all they have done, all the hard work and long hours put in. They have made a real difference.

Ben Ward spoke about Oxford Flood Network’s plans to install water level monitors in the Oxford area to provide live information on water levels, to a computer or smartphone, during flooding, on a much more local scale than at present available. This is an exciting prospect and we welcome it. Ben is looking for people who are prepared to have a (compact) sensor device sited, say, in their garden, or other suitable location.

Nick Ross and Matthew Rose presented Thames Water’s plans for a three-year comprehensive survey (already just begun) of main sewers throughout the Oxford area. This is very welcome as there have been many serious problems with foul sewer overflow, especially during floods.

Richard Harding and Barry Russell of the Environment Agency explained the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme. This c. £125 million scheme is intended to reduce the risk of flooding in Oxford to once in 75 years (though some areas may still be affected more often) – assuming that climate change does not conspire to make things worse (as it well may). A lively discussion ensued, which will no doubt be continued elsewhere.

Thank you to everybody who came and for the generous donations to support our work.

OAFP annual public meeting

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16 October 2014

OAFP annual public meeting this evening at which Thames Water announced news of a £1million+ study of the Oxford area catchment sewers, over the next 2-3 years. This will result in a business plan to take appropriate action. That will then have to be funded. Welcome news, well done all who have worked towards this, not least Oxford City Council and local MPs, but most of all to Thames Water themselves.

An interesting meeting, and well attended, but we missed the open floor question session that disappeared last year; hope it’ll be back next year.

Burst main

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5 October 2014

Peter Rawcliffe was interviewed by Bill Heine on Radio Oxford, to do with flooding in Normandy Crescent (between Hollow Way and the Eastern By-Pass) caused two weeks ago by a burst water main. About 50 houses were flooded – a catastrophe for many people. The area was flooded by a previous burst seven years ago, very possibly on the same mains pipe. We remember too the burst water main in South Hinksey in February 2012, when several houses were flooded: some were still undergoing repair 18 months later. Edit: to that add the inundation of Earl Street by a burst main in 1990 or 1991. There are probably others.

 Do we now have a “new cause” of flooding to add to the list?

  • Are these disasters a reflection of a poor state of mains pipes more widely in the Oxford area?
  • Can we expect more burst mains as old pipes fail?
  • When the repair is done at the site of the rupture, is the rest of the pipe being checked to assess its state?
  • If so, is this being acted on speedily?

We hope Thames Water will, in Normandy Crescent (and anywhere else)

  • be speedy and thorough in its clear up
  • communicate well with residents
  • promptly investigate the state of the whole pipe concerned
  • make public the results of those investigations

act on them promptly and effectively.

Meeting about sewers

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9 May 2014

Simon Collings represented OFA at a meeting of the City Council’s Scrutiny Committee today where the subject of sewer flooding was discussed. Senior representatives of Thames Water were present. Sewer overflow has been a problem in parts of the city for years and is particularly bad when river flooding occurs. The meeting discussed the various issues and possible solutions. The dialogue was constructive and Thames Water and the Council are currently agreeing a communication about the outcomes of the meeting. We hope to be able to say more in the near future. Our sense is that real progress is now being made.

South Hinksey sewers

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Sewer clearing South Hinksey, June 2013
Sewer clearing South Hinksey, June 2013
Sewer clearing South Hinksey, June 2013

11 June 2013

Sewers are being cleared in South Hinksey.  The main sewer has been found to be badly blocked. There are many places in the pipe where groundwater is getting in – we hope these will be repaired by relining the pipe. Thames Water are having this work done following the sewer overflows in November and December 2012.