Thames Water is attempting to push through a controversial water recycling scheme that campaigners say will increase pollution in the river.
As reported by the Guardian, the water company is bypassing local democracy to have its project approved.
Defra secretary Steve Barclay has agreed to an application by Thames Water to consider its Teddington water recycling scheme under national infrastructure rules. If passed, Barclay will make the decision to give the green light.
The project – which will cost £250 million – will use liquid waste from sewage treatment works, putting it through a further layer of treatment and releasing the treated water into a river to the same amount of water that is taken for drinking water.
Thames Water would abstract 75 million litres of water a day from the River Thames at Teddington, south-west London and replacing it with treated sewage from the nearby Mogden sewage treatment works through a new tunnel.
Campaigners have argued against the decision over concerns on river quality from forever forever chemicals, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), potentially contained in the treated sewage.
A Defra spokesperson said: “The Teddington direct river abstraction has been designated as a nationally significant infrastructure project, streamlining the development consent process.
“This designation does not indicate that the project is more or less likely to be granted development consent,” the Defra spokesperson continued.
“Defra is currently reviewing Thames Water’s draft water resource management plan, which includes proposals for this project,” the Defra spokesperson added.
A Thames Water spokesperson said: “The development consent order is an open and transparent process, managed at the national level, which will fully engage local customers, communities and councils, enabling them to have their say … With London’s population forecast to grow to 12 million by 2050 and the UK set to experience more extreme heat events, we believe the Teddington direct river abstraction project is of national significance, as it will help us meet future water demand during drought and ensure we keep the taps flowing for our customers.”
