Resident Mr. Hughes told council officials that sewage is entering the Brentford Canal, a problem that intensifies during the summer months when water flow slows, and that the issue stems from both historic discharges and recent misdirection of sewage into storm drains.
While Mr. Hughes does not blame Hounslow Council for the pollution, he warned that the problem must be tackled if the authority hopes to promote recreational use of the waterway.
Councillor Katherine Dunne responded that a River Brent catchment area group is coordinating cross‑borough work on the issue, with officers from Ealing and Brent closely examining sewage misconnections that originate upstream before flowing into Hounslow’s section of the canal.
In August, a separate incident nine miles away in Ruislip saw dead fish washing up on the shore of the Lido; investigators linked the die‑off to an algal bloom that depleted oxygen levels, with the carcasses testing positive for E. coli and botulism, toxins that thrive in warm, shallow water.
The most significant concentration of dead wildlife was reported around the Brentford Lock Basin, underscoring concerns that water quality problems in the canal may have broader ecological impacts.
Council officials say addressing the sewage misconnections will be essential to improve water quality, protect public health, and restore confidence in the canal for leisure activities.