Merton Council has warned the public to avoid the River Wandle after a major diesel spill has polluted the ‘at-risk’ South London chalk stream.
The spill has rapidly spread along the river, from Wallington to Wandsworth, causing significant damage to local wildlife and water quality.
Yesterday, (February 18), 4,000 litres of diesel reportedly leaked from a bus depot storage tank in Thornton Heath, Croydon. The spillage entered the river, and surface water drains and has now spread throughout the river.
Residents have reported seeing birds coated in oil, struggling to clean themselves and survive in the contaminated water. Despite the best efforts of emergency teams from the Environment Agency, there are growing concerns about the long-term damage to the river’s fragile ecosystem.
Merton Council confirmed that the spill has severely impacted the Watermeads Nature Reserve in Mitcham, with numerous local wildlife species already affected by the oil.
The London Fire Brigade has been working tirelessly to contain the spill, with fire trucks and officers “trying their best to stop the flow and take the pollutants out of the river,” as Labour councillor for the Colliers Wood ward near the Wandle Stuart Neaverson mentioned stated online.
Thames Water is also involved in the clean-up efforts, and the public is advised to stay clear of the contaminated water.
Merton Council also urged residents to avoid allowing pets into the water and to refrain from feeding wildlife, as doing so could result in animals ingesting the harmful pollutants.
The Environment Agency has launched a full investigation into the cause of the spill, and Merton Council has vowed to provide updates as more information becomes available. Concerns remain high over the lasting effects on the river, which has been a focus of environmental efforts for many years.
Bobby Dean, MP for Carshalton and Wallington, expressed his concern about the situation, having long campaigned to protect Wandle’s health. He said: “This should never have happened.”
Dean, who has previously campaigned to improve the protection of the Wandle, added that he’s pushing the Environment Agency for answers, an immediate clean-up plan, and safeguards to ensure something like this never occurs again.
The River Wandle begins in the North Downs and flows nine miles through Sutton, Croydon, and Wandsworth before reaching the Thames. As one of London’s few chalk streams, it’s home to brown trout, chub, barbel, and roach, making it a popular spot for anglers.
However, a report by the Local Democracy Reporting Service last year found that Thames Water may not take action to protect the river from sewage until 2035. Thames Water is conducting an ecological assessment to determine priorities, with potential works on the Wandle possibly brought forward to 2027.
