You know you're not in London when.....

[Ming the Merciless]

The water runs so clear you can see the bottom of the river.

 

[Markymark]

The water runs so clear you can see the bottom of the river.

Murkiness in river water is a very poor guide to cleanliness. The Thames is actually very clean.

 

[jefmcg]

You know you are not in London when you tell people where you are from, and get blank looks in return. Until you change your answer to "London", and then everyone knows.

That seems to imply that Londoners have heard of other places.

 

[Dirk]

When you encounter drivers who can actually reverse accurately at 20 mph down a lane.

 

[slowmotion]

When you encounter drivers who can actually reverse accurately at 20 mph down a lane.

...and thank you for thanking them....

 

[jefmcg]

Murkiness in river water is a very poor guide to cleanliness. The Thames is actually very clean.

Clean as far as the fish are concerned, but after heavy rain, full of poo .

 

[slowmotion]

Clean as far as the fish are concerned, but after heavy rain, full of poo .

Is that only downstream of Chelsea Embankment? I've seen large groups of swimmers upstream of Hammersmith Bridge.

 

[srw]

Murkiness in river water is a very poor guide to cleanliness. The Thames is actually very clean.

Shhh! We'll not let on about the daily reports in the Evening Standard! (Inside front cover)

 

[slowmotion]

[QUOTE 4945116, member: 43827"]They're not swimming, just going through the motions.[/QUOTE]
Really good! Thank you.

 

[jefmcg]

Is that only downstream of Chelsea Embankment? I've seem large groups of swimmers upstream of Hammersmith Bridge.

Um, no, that in fact is about the worst place ... well anywhere between Richmond Lock and Hammersmith Bridge. The sewage is mostly from Mogden and sloshes back and forth for days with the tide. Once it gets as far as Hammersmith Bridge, then it will run out to sea in a few hours. This is such a phenomenon that they are building a sewage pipe from Mogden as far as Hammersmith bridge, and the same "part processed" sewage will be dumped in the river there.

Mogden releases sewage roughly every two weeks in summer (after rainfall) and the advice is not to use the river for recreation for 3 weeks after a sewage release (yup, no rowing or sailing if you follow that advice, and definitely no voluntary swimming). If the system is overwhelmed with rainwater, they have to release it into the Thames or send it back the way it came .

I know 3 people who have ended up in hospital after contact with sludgy Thames water, but I have swallowed a mouthful of it <shudder> with no ill effects.

(This is all from a few years ago. I know Mogden is working to improve things, but I don't think they have finished the related projects yet. Certainly not the pipeline.)

 

[PK99]

o

That would be The Wandle then.

or the Beverley Brook. 15 mins walk and loads of Trout

 

[damj]

The air is clear and tall buildings aren't covered in soot..

 

[Con]

When your blood pressure starts returning to normal

 

[Ming the Merciless]

When theres no sewage and poo slopping about in the river.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

When your view isnt sploit by smog like this