Tidal Thames sewage ban from July 2024

The Port of London Authority (PLA) announced the ban on 1 March 2021 to give operators time to make alternative arrangements on board their vessels.

The move is part of a suite of efforts undertaken by the PLA to tackle pollution in the Thames.

“Our goal of eradicating both sewage and plastic from the river, as part of our Thames Vision 2050 strategy, means that vessel operators discharging toilet waste to the river from their vessels can no longer be tolerated,” said Bob Baker, chief harbour master at the PLA.

“Historically the volumes involved were comparatively small, compared to the wider pollution of the river, but that situation is changing,” he added.

The Thames Tideway Tunnel, a 25km ‘super sewer’ built under the river, will come into operation in 2025.

“By capturing polluting discharges from combined sewer overflows built into the capital’s largely Victorian sewerage network, the opening of the super sewer will be a great day for the river, making vessels’ discharges of sewage no longer acceptable,” continued Baker.

The PLA’s Clean Thames Manifesto commits a range of stakeholders including water companies to decrease their impact on the Thames, with a particular focus on sewage.

The PLA also operates a network of passive debris collectors and is working with charity Thames21 and community groups to arrange foreshore clean ups.

It is also exploring how best to remove wet wipes that have accumulated in the river near Hammersmith as well as monitoring water quality.

Offenders flouting the upcoming sewage laws will face potentially unlimited fines from magistrates.