Efforts are underway to address a diesel spill affecting a stretch of the River Wandle, which has also reached a nature reserve in southwest London.
Merton Council reported that the London Fire Brigade (LFB) responded to the situation on Tuesday afternoon, working to contain the spill, while Thames Water is engaged in cleaning the affected waterway.
The Watermeads Nature Reserve in Mitcham, owned by the National Trust and located on the Morden side of the River Wandle, has encountered pollution from this incident.
According to the Environment Agency, measures have been implemented to stop the leak, which is believed to originate from a bus depot storage tank in Thornton Heath, Croydon.
They noted that approximately 4,000 liters (around 879 gallons) of oil have entered nearby surface water drains and impacted the Wandle. The river is expected to feel the effects from Beddington to Wandsworth in the upcoming days.
Local MP Bobby Dean expressed on X that “a significant diesel spill has resulted in wildlife being contaminated and inflicted severe damage on the waterway.”
The Liberal Democrat MP for Carshalton and Wallington mentioned that residents “have reported this to me as an environmental catastrophe.”
He stated, “I am in contact with the Environment Agency and will ensure that those at fault are held accountable.”
A representative from Merton Council commented, “The council acknowledges the diesel spill originating from Croydon that has contaminated sections of the River Wandle, especially within the Watermeads Nature Reserve, leading to some wildlife being coated in oil.”
The investigation will be led by the Environment Agency, with the council promising to provide ongoing updates, the spokesperson added.
Residents are advised by the local authority to avoid contact with the water, refrain from letting pets enter it, and not to feed the local wildlife, as this could lead to the animals ingesting harmful contaminants.
