Environmental campaigners express distress over 77-day sewage discharge into local river

Environmental campaigners are expressing deep distress over a sewage discharge into a local river that lasted for over two months. The storm overflow at Chesham sewage treatment works began in February and continued for 77 days, flooding the River Chess, a rare chalk stream. The chairman of the River Chess Association, Paul Jennings, voiced frustration at Thames Water’s failure to prevent such incidents despite recent upgrades. Chalk streams are a precious natural feature, with only 210 worldwide, and incidents like this can have devastating effects on wildlife. Thames Water has pledged further upgrades to prevent future discharges, but campaigners are calling for more government regulation to protect our rivers. The Environment Agency is investigating the issue and urging the public to report any pollution incidents.