Added 10/2/08      

(Source - AWE Annual Report 2006) (sorry - no longer easily available)

Liquid radioactive waste dumped into Thames for 50 years!!!

'The Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) makes warheads for the UK’s nuclear deterrent.'

'It has done so, serving the country safely and securely for more than 50 years.'
 

Award for Waste Treatment Plant.

AWE’s new Waste Treatment Plant has won a top national award. It was built to make possible the closure of the Pangbourne Pipeline which served for 50 years as AWE’s route for disposal of treated low level radioactive waste to the River Thames.

The Company complied with the Environment Agency request that the pipeline be closed by April 2005.  This was achieved ahead of schedule thanks to the successful design, construction and commissioning of a new Waste Treatment Plant.  The plant has been operational for almost two years treating effluent using cutting edge technology, unique to the industry, including evaporation and an advanced form of filtration to remove low level radioactive waste.  It is recognised as best practice within the nuclear industry and the water leaving the Waste Treatment Plant for disposal is almost of drinking water quality.  The efficiency and design of the plant was independently recognised in October when it received the National Institute of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) Water Award for 2006.

As part of AWE’s commitment to continuing environmental improvement, 40 metre lengths of pipework from the decommissioned Pangbourne Pipeline were removed from the bed of the Thames in October. This was carried out by a team of specialist contractors and divers, working in close co-operation with the Environment Agency.

(Source AWE Annual Report 2006)

'I now understand why the Environment Agency is reluctant to dredge The Thames' (Ewan Larcombe 10-2-2008)

For more nasty surprises - try a Google search on 'River Thames radioactivity'