- Thames Water to take on the responsibility of 4,000 sewage pumping stations from property owners and managers
- Utility will take over electricity and maintenance costs under new legislation, potentially saving customers thousands of pounds
- Firm appeals for help tracking 1,800 ‘missing’ stations
Thames Water is appealing to customers to help identify privately owned sewage pumping stations.
The utility, which serves 15 million customers across London and the Thames Valley, will take responsibility for around 4,000 pumping in October 2016, but needs to track down 1,800 currently off its radar.
New legislation means sewage pumping stations, which power wastewater away from properties and out into the public sewer pipe network, currently owned and maintained by customers will become legally owned and operated by the local water company.
The pumping stations are found in all shapes and sizes, and can be in places where there are a number of properties needing to connect to the public sewer network. Customers will know they have one as they’ll be paying to maintain and power them.
Jerry White, of Thames Water, said: “This is really good news for customers. We’d urge anyone who thinks they may have one to get in touch so we can check they are eligible for the transfer of ownership. In some cases, as well as electricity savings, maintaining and replacing pumps can cost thousands of pounds so it’s an excellent deal for them.
“We believe we know where approximately half of the stations we need to take over are, but really need help to find the other 1,800. Please get in touch if you think this applies to you and we can take on the responsibility forever.”
Anyone with a private pumping station can make Thames Water aware at thameswater.co.uk/pumphunt
