Latest News from East Garston Flood & Pollution Forum

If you would like to join the EGF&PF, please contact Martyn Wright at martynwright345@btinternet.com

7th September 2025

Martyn Wright writes:

Well, that glorious summer flew by!

So, time for another update, and you’ll be pleased to hear that it’s a positive one.

Our Spring Report detailed the improvements that had been made to the sewerage network, but also highlighted some other problem areas that had been found.
We recently met with Thames Water’s Regional Operations Team to review the latest progress on the necessary remedial work they have planned.
We don’t have exact dates and detail yet as these are being finalised with contractors, but we will be informed as soon as these plans are complete. However, the very positive headlines are as follows:

East Garston:

• Winter 24/25 summary:
  • Virtually trouble free, with no need for the ATAC filter unit to be switched on and only a minor short term spillage after heavy rainfall
  • However, it was touch and go with the sewer full with infiltration for a lot of the time
• Results of 2025 investigations:
  • Further groundwater infiltration was found in the network near Station Road and Front Street, and as a result, two manhole to manhole sections of pipe will be relined, a total of about 100m, and two manholes will be sealed, during this autumn. Some of the work is due to start imminently.
  • The ATAC unit will be installed at the Pumping Station again this winter on a “just-in-case” basis.

Eastbury:

• Winter 24/25 summary:
  • The 450m of relining and manhole sealing proved to be successful which, together with the control of river weed by the EA, resulted in no sewer flooding and no need for tankers as in the previous winter
• Results of 2025 investigations:
  • Nothing significant found and no further work is planned within the Eastbury network, other than the completed repair and modification of a problematic localised sewer flooding device in Wynshall Lane, and the possible sealing of a couple of reported smelly manholes
  • However, the really good news is that the complete rising main (main sewer pipe) that connects Eastbury Pumping Station to the East Garston sewer network, is being replaced with a new one. More information when the plans are finalised.

Great Shefford:

·        Winter 24/25 summary:

o   No spills identified and no tankers required.

o   The Great Shefford Flood Alleviation Scheme has been completed which should reduce the risk of groundwater-fed fluvial flooding from the Great Shefford stream alongside the Wantage Road. It is felt that this will also alleviate potential sewer flooding in those areas.

·        Results of 2025 investigations:

o   Nothing significant found and no further work planned

Weston:

• Winter 24/25 summary:
  • There was no remediation work carried out in 2024
  • There was significant sewer flooding throughout the winter with a constant tanker run deployed to keep it under control
• Results of 2025 investigations:
  • Very major groundwater infiltration was detected from a number of locations between Weston and the East Shefford Sewage Treatment Works
  • As a result, 500m of relining will be completed this autumn
  • There are further leakages suspected from some private drains which are also being investigated

East Shefford Sewage Treatment Works:

• Winter 24/25 summary:
  • The recently completed £14m upgrade has proved to be very successful in the improved treatment of the normal discharge that goes into the river
  • However, the STW still suffered with excessive groundwater flow leading to a long term overflow discharge of untreated sewage
• Results of 2025 investigations:
  • As explained in our last report, this overload was due partly to the Weston infiltration, but also partly due to the ATAC units not needing to be deployed, or at least the Lambourn one only for a short time. This put extra pressure on the STW.
  • The good news is that the further relining and sealing work being carried out this autumn in Weston and upstream villages, as detailed above, should have a major positive impact on the STW

Although Upper Lambourn and Lambourn are not strictly within SAGLUV’s remit, as Lambourn PC deal with their issues directly, Lambourn sewage network feeds directly into East Shefford Sewage Treatment Works, which is covered by SAGLUV. Therefore it is helpful to know what is going on at the top end of the Valley to see the full picture.

In Upper Lambourn, despite 1,450m of relining being completed and numerous manholes sealed in 2024, significant infiltration and sewer spillage was again experienced in 2024/25 and tankers needed to be deployed. However, on the positive side, the Lambourn ATAC filter unit was deployed for a shorter period of 6 weeks compared to 26 weeks in winter 2023/24. There were no major sewer issues in Lambourn, but there was at least one spillage event caused by a blockage of wet wipes and other unmentionables in the foul sewer network.

We understand that the 2025 surveys found three major faults in the network in Upper Lambourn, which were letting in large volumes of groundwater. Plans are now being made to repair them. In addition, other points of infiltration are suspected in Upper Lambourn, possibly including leaks in private drains. These will be fully investigated when groundwater conditions allow. The Lambourn ATAC unit will be installed, and ready for use again this winter, as a precautionary measure.

We in SAGLUV are cautiously optimistic that the works outlined in this report will get completed, which will take us a few steps further towards achieving our objective of “Clear sewers and a clean river”. It’s taking time, and no doubt further infiltration points will be found along the way when the groundwater levels make investigation possible, but we are already in a much better place than we were.

We’ll get there in the end. But it’s a bit like the old question ‘How do you eat an elephant?’ and the answer…. ‘One bite at a time!’

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7th January 2025