Sharing a message from Thames21's Love The Lea Facebook page. I recommend 'liking' it or having a look at the Love the Lea campaign page. It's shocking how polluted the Lea and its tributaries are. 

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It’s good news that Enfield Council is now sending leaflets to homes around Pymmes Park Lake and Turkey Brook telling them how there’s a risk their home could be polluting their local river. We backed local people who were disgusted that raw sewage could flow into their local lake and river; who were saddened that more wasn’t being done.

Enfield Council has made a start towards becoming a River Friendly Council. There’s a long way to go of course. Almost every river in Enfield fails the Water Framework Directive. Telling people about the risks of connecting a waste pipe to a drain pipe that leads to a river is a necessary part of the solution.http://www.enfieldindependent.co.uk/news/10773020.Council_raises_aw... 

Ages ago we set out what we think a River Friendly Council is http://www.thames21.org.uk/river-friendly-council-checklist/ The first steps in the stewardship of the rivers that flow through parks, past homes and into the Lea. 

One of the big themes of Love the Lea is that the system can work so much betterhttp://www.thames21.org.uk/2012/12/a-healthier-future-for-east-lond... Roads don’t have to drain to rivers. Green drainage can be used to cut sewage overflows to rivers. Councils can do much more to let residents know the risk of connecting a wastewater pipe to a drainpipe that leads straight to a river.

In Boroughs like Haringey, Enfield, parts of Waltham Forest and Barnet and Broxbourne there is one set of pipes for rain and another for sewage.

Too many people don’t know this so connect a dishwasher or washing machine (or even toilets) to a drainpipe. 

If you go to Lordship Recreation Ground, Pymmes Park Lake, Turkey Brook, Dagenham Brook and countless other water bodies they stink. Stink of sewage.

We need Enfield Council to continue working towards becoming a River Friendly Council and other Councils to do much more.

Theo Thomas

For more information about the Love the Lea campaign email theo.thomas@thames21.org.uk