Water Quality (Hansard, 2 November 1988)

§ Mr. Moynihan

As a result of a major scheme started in the 1950s to rebuild and extend London's main sewage treatment facilities, virtually the whole of the Thames estuary is now classified as being of "good" or "fair" quality—within the top two categories of the national classification scheme. Some £200 million in current prices has so far been spent on improvements. More than 100 different species of fish have been found in the tidal Thames since the early 1970s. The Thames is now the cleanest metropolitan estuary in the world.

In contrast, the Rhine has suffered from serious pollution along much of its length for many years from the heavy concentration of industry and population along its banks. In addition, the river has suffered in recent years from pollution caused by agricultural activities and from accidental spillages. Although there have been improvements in some aspects of water quality in the Rhine, Ministers of the Rhine states have recently agreed on the need for a major clean-up programme. One of its aims is the return of salmon and other aquatic life to the river.