London: huge diesel spill in River Wandle

On Tuesday, February 18, around 4000 litres of diesel oil spilled through surface water drains into the River Wandle, a chalk stream in south-west London. The origin of the spill is unclear, but it is believed to have come from a storage tank at a nearby bus depot. The Environment Agency is investigating the event and collecting evidence to assess the environmental impact. Cleaning operations are underway, but the situation appears very critical. According to Bobby Dean, Liberal Democrat MP for Carshalton and Wallington, the incident is a real “environmental disaster” that has erased all recent efforts of restoring the Wandle’s ecosystem after years of heavy industrial pollution. He also believes that the diesel spill originated from a bus garage in Thornton Heath and entered the river through a sewage treatment works. Transport for London (TfL) said that a full investigation is ongoing as well as cooperation with the Environmental Agency to limit the impact of the spill. Commenting on the incident, Jack Hogan from the South East Rivers Trust said that the main risk comes from the diesel breaking down into smaller particles attaching themselves to sediments, vegetation, and banks. He also advised the public to stay away from the spill area. There is also some concern that the spill might affect nearby Morden Hall Park and Watermeads Nature Reserve, which are looked after by the National Trust. In a statement, the Trust said they are aware of a “significant diesel spill” in the Wandle and are working closely with the Environmental Agency to monitor the situation and help the cleaning operations in the affected area.