As far as I understand the issue, planning permission for the development was granted with the agreement that the sewage from the new houses would be pumped to the local water authority treatment works and then discharged, I believe, into the Kennet. The developers now intend to overide this constraint and use a (cheaper!) passive treatment system and discharge directly into the Lambourn instead.Firebird wrote: Is this project different to the treated sewage discharges that take place in many rivers? Does the Lambourn have any others. I imagine this would raise the phosphate levels, and I think the Lambourn was relatively low in those compared to some rivers.
The local water authority treatment works are monitored and regulated by legislation. What constraints would there be on a private, stand alone treatment plant? Who would be responsible for the upkeep of the plant after the developers have taken their initial profit? These are some of the questions which need to be answered.
It is the fact that this is to be done without any prior public consultation that is the most worrying to me. This could set a dangerous precedent that may affect any river in the future.
Keep signing the petition!
Rob
