Sewage pump-out service provision on the tidal Thames

Consultation with operators: 8 August 2022 – 9 September 2022

The Thames Tideway Tunnel (also known as the ‘super sewer’) is due to be operational in 2025, stemming the overflow of untreated sewage into the river after as little as 2mm of rainfall.

This will deliver the most radical improvement in the tidal Thames’ water quality in generations.

We are supporting this improvement by introducing a General Direction, with effect from 1 July 2024, banning the disposal of black water (i.e. sewage) into the tidal river by commercial vessels.

From 8 August 2022, a month-long consultation with operators will assess how best to implement this change.

It aims to establish the preferred way for alternative disposal options to be provided, where arrangements are not already in place.

We are mindful that to comply, vessel owners and operators, who do not already have provision in place for sewage disposal, will need access to a suitable disposal route.

Our objective is to capture any changes that may have occurred since our last consultation on this issue in 2015 and review progress on compliance made over the last seven years.

We specifically want to establish what additional facilities will be required and how they can best be provided.