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New information from HS2/Align indicates a much greater risk of aquifer contamination than previously admitted.
Daily sewage releases into the river could continue into May, but work is underway to tackle groundwater infiltration into Chesham's sewers which is big contributor to this problem.
In March, Thames Water is beginning work to fix groundwater infiltration hotspots in Chesham's sewers.
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Wet August, Dry River
Sep 12, 2011
The Environment Agency's latest water situation report tells a tale of heavy rainfall and low flows in our area. We had plenty of downpours in the Chess Valley during August and the Chiltern-East-Colne area that includes the Chess received 84 mm of rainfall, equalling 143% of the long term average (LTA) for the month. Some high rainfall totals were recorded, including 19.8 mm falling at Chenies on the 25th August. Despite these heavy downpours, we are pleased to report that we did not receive notification from Thames Water of a sewage discharge into the Chess. Historically, sewage releases have mainly occurred from the Chesham Sewage Treatment Works when its capacity has been overwhelmed by heavy rainfall.
Effective rainfall levels (those contributing to water levels in the aquifer) are normally very small in August, as little rainfall can penetrate down into the groundwater; most is lost back into the atmosphere by evaporation or transpiration (when water is taken up by plant roots and then lost through pores in the leaves). This August, 160% of the effective rainfall LTA fell, but this only totals 8 mm.
The rest of the summer has been drier, with only 85% of the LTA rainfall for April-August falling in the Chiltern area. Even worse news for the river is that only 46% of the effective rainfall LTA fell. So it should be no surprise that the groundwater levels recorded at Ashley Green continued to decline below normal levels. In fact, across the Chiltern-East-Colne area, groundwater levels reached their lowest since the very dry period back in 2005-06. As a result, flows in the Chess have been low, with stretches in Chesham drying out as far down as Meades Water Gardens. A number of fish were caught out by the retreat of the river and plenty of dead bullheads were seen in Water Lane in Chesham.
A wet winter will be essential to recharge the groundwater levels sufficiently to prevent drought conditions next year.
To view the monthly water situation report, visit the Environment Agency's web site.
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