4,000 liters of oil leaked into the River Wandle from a Croydon bus depot, impacting wildlife & nature reserves.
The Wandle used to be dirty from factories, but it is cleaner now. Wildlife like trout and kingfishers live there. Some people saw birds covered in oil and struggling in the water.
Emergency teams are trying to help, but people worry about long-term harm. The spill may affect much of the river, potentially reaching from Beddington to Wandsworth. The source seems to be a bus depot tank.
The Environment Agency is gathering facts to understand the extent of the damage. Officers are working with the fire brigade to stop more oil from leaking.
Merton Council spoke about the spill’s impact, highlighting the harm to Watermeads Nature Reserve. Animals there are already hurt. Firefighters are working hard to clean it up, attempting to remove the oil from the river.
Thames Water helps with the clean-up, too. People should avoid the dirty water and keep pets away. Additionally, avoid feeding any wildlife, as animals could ingest harmful substances.
The Wandle flows nine miles to the Thames and was very polluted long ago. Now, folks consider it a nice walking trail. A group stated it was once thought “dead.”
Brown trout live in the river, and they were added back in. Other animals are also there, including kingfishers, bats, and damselflies. Chalk streams are rare habitats, with most existing in England.
Climate change is a threat to these streams, as is water overuse and pollution. Farming, cities, and sewage contribute to pollution. Bobby Dean, a local MP, is concerned about the oil.
Dean wants answers about the spill quickly and safeguards to avoid future problems. The Wandle starts in the North Downs and runs through several towns. The river holds many kinds of fish, and anglers enjoy fishing there.
A report says Thames Water may delay action, potentially postponing the protection of the river from sewage until 2035.