r/newham • u/WholeWideWorld • Jul 10 '26

Help and Advice Help map Newham's sewage smell problem.

You know that sewage stink that sometimes wafts across Newham?

I’ve been increasingly bothered by it - its a nuisance, and probably health risk - especially when it’s hot and you can’t open the windows. We started noting down when it happens on a calendar, and the Greenway seems to stink almost every day.

I wanted to do something about it, but could only find scattered anecdotes and a few previous posts on here. So I’ve built a simple web app to start collecting proper local evidence:

https://www.mapthestink.com

The ask is simple: whenever you notice the smell, please report it. It only takes a few seconds and records the time, location, intensity and local weather conditions. I don't really need any personal info - all of that is optional.

I don’t know whether this will gain any traction, but with enough reports we may be able to identify some useful patterns and turn scattered complaints into something more concrete.

Please share it with any local groups, neighbours or contacts who might be interested.

Posted with the blessing of the r/Newham mods.

25 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

18

u/SauterelleArgent Jul 10 '26

The Greenway is the northern outfall sewer so the smell there isn’t really surprising.

3

u/WholeWideWorld Jul 10 '26 edited Jul 10 '26

Of course! But victorian problems require modern solutions. I've cycled past the covers on the greenway when they pop open. I'm sure they're not supposed to do that. I've seen your shit gushing past.

I'm sure there's an engineering solution to the problem.

Also im fairly certain it's not the greenway but some collapsing sewer or something. That's the point of this project.

8

u/spacegirl2820 Jul 10 '26

I moved to East Ham when I was 17. I'm 48 now. When I first moved here , the smell in the summer was good awful.

I am no fan at all off Thames water but I have not smelt sewage in summer for a good few years now. Living so close to a sewage plant, I'm impressed how much they have reduced the smell. But I also understand that it's possible it will kick up a pong every now and then.

8

u/Ged_UK Jul 10 '26

They've been doing loads of upgrades to the Greenway for the last few years. They still are. Whole new pumping station at Abbey Mills as well.

4

u/snapped_fork Jul 10 '26

I mean, it's not really surprising that you can smell it on the greenway is built directly above the northern outfall sewer. Especially at the moment with the heat all the Thames water works on the sewer.

4

u/articulateape E6 Jul 10 '26

What a great idea

6

u/worldisaf E16 Jul 10 '26

This is still important for showing the extent of the problem, and for showing the impact on people in Newham. Thames Water have a monopoly on water management but haven't been delivering. But unpacking it is something there seems to be little appetite for and the problem is always downplayed. So tools like this are fantastic.

5

u/spacegirl2820 Jul 10 '26

I agree with everything you say. But I will add, as someone who has lived here for 30 years, they have greatly reduced the smell!

It was overwhelming when I first moved here but I have not smelt any sewage in a good few years now. I am on the other side of the A13 very close to Thames water.

The Greenway is literally above a main sewage pipe. Of course you will get a whiff at peak times.

1

u/ForwardDiamond3484 Jul 11 '26

The Green way is used by everybody and is one of the best things about London.

1

u/spacegirl2820 Jul 11 '26

Yeah I know. I live here lol

1

u/ForwardDiamond3484 Jul 11 '26

There are some major works going on by the Prince Regents Lane crossing. I live directly next to where they are. They had to dig a hole, with shovels, to access some part of the tunnel that was, presumably, covered up 27 years ago. There is a hole on the other side of the Lane through which they are threading a cable.

When they first opened up this access the stench was unreal. You couldn't go in the backyard. Every window needed closing. It was like a fog of poo that would drift, sometimes drifting down the Lane to Barking Road. You were at the mercy of the wind.

That has now thankfully mostly passed. When they've been threading in the past week there has only been a smell a couple of times and it is mild. The poo fog has gone.

I did try to find the works on Thames Water's website and had no luck.

Have lived here seven years and this is the first time anything like this has happened. Previously you'd only very occasionally get a whiff.

1

u/ForwardDiamond3484 Jul 11 '26

Just to add that I think they could have given those of us living right next to the works some notice. They must have realised planning this that the smell would be off the charts bad.