Thames Water 'acted to protect human health'

A REPORT into what happened in Bramley when households were told not to drink the water has found Thames Water acted appropriately to protect public health.

- By VICTORIA SHIPP

In May 2024, a 'do not drink notice' was issued for a school and then more than 600 homes in the Surrey village, after a nearby fuel leak contaminated the water supply.

This devastating leak had already had a huge impact on Bramley, causing vile smells and environmental damage, but the turning off of the taps was one of the most serious.

For weeks, residents relied on bottled water in order to cook, brush their teeth and drink. The leak meant that the amount of benzene in the water was too high and should not be consumed.

As a result, Thames Water needed to replace the pipes that could have let the contamination into the water, which created weeks of roadworks that ground traffic in the village to a halt and caused more disruption.