Enfield Council is currently considering whether or not to give the green light to a revised £250m upgrade of the Deephams sewage treatment works at Picketts Lock, submitted by Thames Water who operate the works.
The Deephams sewage treatment works (STW) is widely believed to be the source of a strong stench which afflicts local residents throughout the year, particularly in the summer months. It has even been the target of numerous protests as part of the ‘Stop the Stink’ campaign. The Thames Water’s latest planning application claims to reduce the number of people affected by the smell by up to 99 per cent in a £250m revamp project.
Head of Programme Delivery, Nick Butler, said: “Submitting this planning application is great news for local residents and watercourses. The upgrade will significantly reduce odour from the sewage works as well as improving local river water quality.
"We have spent an extra seven weeks having very productive conversations with Enfield residents, listening and acting on their priorities, needs and concerns.
“This time has been invaluable in putting together what I now believe to be a very robust plan to upgrade Deephams sewage works – one we are fully committed to delivering.
“The work has to happen, and I’m delighted that all of the people we have spoken to agree with the revised plans to include extra measures to deal with the smelliest part of the works.”
The plans will see Thames Water invest in upgrading the systems within the STW to make their discharge into the River Lea cleaner and safer. Bosses behind the planning application insist the project will provide a much-needed boost to the local economy with 20 per cent of construction jobs going to local residents.
The STW currently treats around 209,000m³ of sewage on average per day, increasing to around 1.3 million cubic metres during heavy rainfall. The upgrade is anticipated to take around three years to complete and will enable the STW to meet new Environment Agency sewage treatment standards which come into force in March 2017.