'Dry' Cherwell could stop Oxford Canal

ANOTHER waterway having water problems is the part of the Oxford Canal that is fed by the Cherwell—it is drying up.

The Environment Agency has confirmed that the Cherwell, that feeds the Oxford Canal was 'drying-up' through lack of rainfall, (shown at normal level) and is now solely dependent on 'man-made' water to stop it drying out completely, Alan Tilbury reveals.

From sewage plants

Man-made water is of course that from the outfalls of sewage plants, with the streams that rise from springs above the sewage plants that feed the river now completely dry.

It is expected that the agency will shortly publish a ‘water prospects' report, that will warn of water shortages following two years of low rainfall.

Fish dependent on water quality are already being seen floating on the surface, unable to survive without a natural water supply.

Kennet & Avon Canal

There is an unconfirmed report that the Kennet, on which the eastern part of the Kennet & Avon Canal is dependent, is also becoming more and more reliant on the output from sewage plants.

Though such output has to meet strict standards, it contains chemicals that have an effect on aquatic life if not heavily diluted by natural river water.