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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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Water White Paper: Our Response
Jul 9, 2012
The Water White Paper 'lacks ambition and urgency' says the Environmental, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee. This is the reaction of MPs to the Government's recently published Water White Paper. Rapid steps are needed to tackle the environmental damage caused by the over-abstraction of water, and to set more ambitious targets to install water meters in households.
Universal metering could save about 16% of household demand, at present about 40% of domestic customers across England and Wales are metered. We support a Government initiative to move towards universal metering. A target of 80% metering by 2020 must be achieved or we will face increasing environmental damage to our rivers. As we know the combination of extended periods of dry weather and over-abstraction can have a devastating effect on our rivers. Our own River Chess has been dry in Chesham for more than a year.
We also encourage Government to look at immediately reducing water company abstraction licences in the Chilterns. Only through this action will we see long term improvements to flow rates in the River Chess.
We all have an obligation to find ways of being more efficient in our use of water which has already become a scarce and precious resource. Reducing water demand in the Chilterns will help but this must be directly linked to reduced abstraction.
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