Anglian Water issues plea after 'unflushable materials' caused blockage and water contamination in Swanspool Allotment stream

The stream that flows along the south east side of Swanspool Allotment is often used by local crop-growers to tend to their patch.

But workers were called out to the site after it was found that high levels of raw sewage was present in the water.

Many of those at the allotment use the stream as a water supply to fill IBC’s (intermediate bulk containers) whereby the water can be treated beforehand.

Michael Young, secretary of the Swanspool Allotment Association, discovered a strong smell from the nearby brook on Wednesday (August 28) and recognised it as something that happens ‘every two of three years or so.’

He said: "For me there wasn’t a huge impact, I’ve got plenty of water so I didn’t need it. For other people they may use it every day with watering cans if they don’t have an electric pump so it’s a bigger problem for them.

"I would always think it’s best practice to pump to an IBC and then pump to the ground because if there’s any nasties in it, the ground filters it out.

“I think the turnaround time in getting it safe was very quick.

“A lot of the time I think it’s due to the storms. You’ve always got to be cautious.”

The blockage was noted by Anglian Water on Friday night (August 30), which was caused by unflushable materials including items like wet wipes, cotton buds and sanitary products which should be discarded using bins.

Workers on site informed allotment users not to water plants from the stream nearby while the issue was being resolved.

Once work was completed, samples were taken from the stream on Monday which tested clear for ammonia, meaning the water quality is back to normal and plot holders can use the stream as usual – although Anglian Water advises that plot holders shouldn’t be pumping water from the river at all.

An Anglian Water spokesman told the Northants Telegraph: “Our teams have been working on Doddington Road in Wellingborough to fix a damaged sewer.

"This was caused by a blockage made up of unflushable materials, such as wet wipes, sanitary products and cotton buds.

"Our engineers have carried out regular samples of the stream, and the water quality is now back to normal.

“We cleared 40,000 blockages last year and the vast majority of which are completely avoidable.

"Blockages cause 80 per cent of flooding and pollution incidents, and also cost us around £19 million a year to remove.

“Only three Ps should go down the toilet – pee, poo and (toilet) paper.”