A councillor decided to go for a swim in a flooded underpass and urged Thames Water to fix the leak.
On Tuesday, (23/08) Councillor Mike Rowley from Oxford decided to go for a swim as a way to protest and get Thames Water's attention to get a leak fixed.
In a tweet, Mike, Barton & Sandhills councillor and 'Sheriff of Oxford' said: "Impromptu Sheriff's inspection of Littlemore Lake, formerly known as the foot and cycle path.
"I normally enjoy outdoor swimming but drought has been declared & this water should be in the pipe. Come on @thameswater get the leak fixed!"
Impromptu Sheriff's inspection of Littlemore Lake, formerly known as the foot and cycle path. I normally enjoy outdoor swimming but a drought's been declared & this water should be in the pipe. Come on @thameswater get the leak fixed! (📸 @rail_guns ) pic.twitter.com/aluKXUONJT
— Mike Rowley (@redmikerowley) August 23, 2022
Geoff Leitch, who took photos, said: “I’m 5’9, and I don’t think I could stand up in this water.
“It’s the main route to get into the city for people living in Littlemore, and it’s a frequently used route to get to the closest bus stop too.”
Thames Water said the burst water main was reported to them on the August 10.
It comes as the GMB union have slammed Thames Water for wasting water through “leaky infrastructure” after it announced a hosepipe ban.
It claimed that Thames Water wastes the same amount of water as having a hosepipe on for more than 73 years – every single day.
Oxford isn't the only place that has suffered with leaks.
In Swindon, a sewage leak caused thousands of fish to die.
The pollution from the burst pipe reached the junction between the River Ray and the River Thames.
A Thames Water spokesperson previously told the Adver: "Protecting the environment is fundamental to what we do and we are sad to say the pollution caused by a burst pipe near Haydon End sewer pumping station has caused the death of fish in the River Ray.
"We are working with the Environment Agency to make sure the river returns back to normal as soon as we can."
But, according to Thames Water's environmental scientists, there is "no evidence" of any environmental damage to the River Thames.
Commercial road has also been a hot spot for leaks this summer, as 'fountain leaks' showed up in the middle of the road.
This was also Thames Water's responsibility.
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