Waste Tankers

Over recent weeks I have been seeing many Waste Tanker Lorries queueing up in Lower Shiplake. What's going on? Are they taking it away or more worryingly dumping it in the Thames.

Posted by: Bill Peachey | 06/04/2026 5:43 pm

The original letter advising of the sewage leak fix was BB 01605982 - I have just reported sewage in the river and the post box damage and linked this to the original reference. The water next to the Thames Water station on the left hand side of the bridge going to the care home is full of sewage and its moving to the clean section of the river on the right side of the bridge. No idea if they left it like this or the leak is not fixed, but due to the amount I didnt want to leave it unreported. Thames Water are coming out within the next 2 hrs to check

Posted by: Tanya Warnford-Davis | 07/04/2026 5:29 pm

Fred thanks, good to know that the waste is taken away but there just seems so much and who/where are the unlucky people and places it eventaully gets dumped I wonder; plus the costs and carbon footprint. And Thames Water just wants to keep putting up our charges....and so the rant continues, don't get me started on the amount the shareholders have milked these companies nor executive pay! Bill

Posted by: Bill Peachey | 07/04/2026 5:24 pm

Thanks for the info Fred, 

I spoke to the team yesteday afternoon, and they thought they would be finished in the  evening. Unfortunately the post box was knocked off it's base yesterday morning. Not sure how to report that issue but I guess the postman will have a way to do so. 

Posted by: Joanne Stone | 07/04/2026 4:12 pm

My understanding is that repairs are being undertaken to two rising mains which feed the Wargrave sewage treatment works. The tanker operation is designed to ensure that waste is removed and treated so that it does not leak into the Thames or other watercourses. 

Posted by: Fred Maroudas | 07/04/2026 3:07 pm

There are also a large number of waste tanker lorries lined up on the  Wargrave side of the A4 (opposite Lower Shiplake) with lots of pumping equipment.  There is obviously a major problem somewhere.

Posted by: Val Brooks | 07/04/2026 2:56 pm

Matthew, thank you for that info. Wow that's a lot of tankers full of waste! I wonder where it ends up. So presumably this is waste that would otherwise go into the Thames. No wonder the Henley Ladies river swimming folk complain. Makes you wonder at what point they think of processing it properly. 

Posted by: Bill Peachey | 07/04/2026 1:29 pm

Hi Bill,

The workmen are usually friendly and happy to chat when I have walked past them. From what they have told me, there is a problem with the sewage pipes further up the line near the Bolney Pump station. As a result they are having the stop all sewage water at pump station by the care home and pump it on to the lorries to take it away.

Hope this helps and happy for anyone else to add more info if they have any.

Posted by: Matthew Langston | 06/04/2026 8:13 pm