Village Lambourn in Berkshire, UK Faces Trouble Due to Sewage Leakage
Foul Odor and Sanitary Products Left Unattended for 4 Months
Residents Criticize Water Company 'Thames Water' Response
Once known for its beautiful natural scenery, the area is now littered with traces of filth, sanitary pads, and condoms scattered throughout the streets. The children's route to school is engulfed in a foul odor, and passing cars are exacerbating the situation. This is the story of the village of Lambourn, located in Berkshire, England.
On the 2nd (local time), Yahoo News reported, "Residents of the village are angry at the water company due to months of continuous sewage leakage." The target of the residents' blame is Thames Water, the largest water and sewage company in the UK. In December last year, sewage overflowed from a manhole on Newbury Street, the center of the village, and it has been left unattended for over four months.
The suspected cause of the problem is the heavy rainfall in the UK from late last year to early this year, which raised the groundwater level and caused sewage to backflow. The backflowed sewage, untreated, is flowing into the nearby Lambourn River, increasing the possibility of water pollution. It is said that children have to wade through the sewage to get to school. Dissatisfied residents even hung road signs with the phrase "Lambourn Dung Show."
Despite this suffering, the villagers claim that Thames Water has failed to resolve the situation even after four months. Politicians have also joined the criticism of Thames Water, accusing them of neglecting the sewage flowing into the river. Thames Water is the largest water company in the UK, supplying water to one-quarter of the entire UK population, and was privatized during Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's administration. It was sold for ?7.6 billion in 1989 under Thatcher's "small government" policy.
Local Member of Parliament Laura Farris and other politicians and environmental groups point out that since privatization, Thames Water has prioritized the interests of shareholders and executives, paying out huge dividends for years despite poor finances. They also criticize, "They have failed to keep promises on water quality improvement and price control, have not taken action even when sewage leaks occur, and have not invested in water and sewage infrastructure, resulting in frequent tap water leaks."
In response, Thames Water apologized, stating, "We regret the inconvenience caused to customers due to the sewage system overload in the Lambourn River area." They added, "Heavy rainfall in the area has kept groundwater and river levels very high, and a significant amount of this water has entered the local sewage system, causing flooding at manholes. We are working to maintain sewage flow and prevent further flooding."
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