Thames Water apologises after sewage water affects properties in Cookham

Thames Water has apologised to residents in a lane in Cookham after sewage water flowed into their properties.

A spokesperson for the water company said it is ‘very sorry’ to residents of Lightlands Lane who have been impacted by sewer flooding due to the flood defences next to the Lightlands Lane Sewage Pumping Station becoming ‘overwhelmed’ due to recent heavy rainfall.

Engineers are continuing to conduct the ‘necessary repairs where it is safe to do so’, and in the meantime, tankers are being used to ‘remove excess sewage'.

A Thames Water spokesperson said: “We are very sorry to residents of Lightlands Lane in Cookham who have been impacted by sewer flooding.

“Unfortunately, flood defenses next to Lightlands Lane Sewage Pumping Station were overwhelmed following recent heavy rainfall.  

“This caused the site to flood, affecting our ability to pump sewage away from nearby properties.

“Our engineers will continue to carry out necessary repairs where it is safe to do so.

“In the meantime, we are using tankers to remove excess sewage reducing the risk of further flooding and to ensure customers can continue to use facilities at home.

“Our customer teams are also working closely with those impacted and will be carrying out clean-ups where required.”  

Thames Water encourages customers affected by sewer flooding to contact the company through its website at: www.thameswater.co.uk or on 0800 3016 9800.

Teams will be able to help and arrange clean-ups where they are needed.

The water company has stated that while it regards any discharge of untreated sewage as ‘unacceptable’ and is ‘working hard to make them unnecessary’, ‘it will take time’.

The overflows have been designed to work automatically when the sewage works are about to become overwhelmed and release sewage into the rivers instead of letting it back up into people’s properties.