A water company has thanked residents for their patience after 'defects' were discovered in the local sewage system.

In a letter issued to Marlow residents on Tuesday, May 9, a representative for Thames Water said tankers would remain in the town after additional issues were discovered following a sewer collapse in Gossmore Lane.

The water company said it would need to maintain a 24-hour presence in Marlow while investigations were ongoing, to manage flows and prevent further flooding and pollution.

Thames Water tankers had been spotted by residents along Gossmore Road over the past few months, with some expressing discontent with the constant noise and disruption.

A representative for the company said the increased activity around the area was due to a defect in the town's sewers, discovered via a camera survey of the sewer network, which is continuing to contribute to local drainage problems. 

"Our investigations will continue at both our sewage pumping station and sewer network. A repair will also be required where the defect is located, which will be carried out by our contractors Cappagh.

"Residents may notice an increase in noise and movement in the area from our tankers. We will try to keep any disruption to a minimum and we'd like to thank you for your patience at this time."

It comes after Sarah Bentley, CEO of Thames Water, announced on Tuesday, May 9, that she had chosen to forego her annual bonus amid a regeneration plan designed to address "unacceptable standards of customer service" in the company.

Thames Water is currently in the second year of its eight-year turnaround scheme to address ageing and deteriorating infrastructures in the Thames Valley - a phenomenon attributed to "a legacy of underinvestment and poor performance". 

Ms Bentley said: "The turnaround plan is not yet where I want it to be, primarily due to significant headwinds from extraordinary energy costs coupled with severe weather events.

"These have hit our customer and environmental performance. Against this backdrop, it simply doesn't feel right to take my bonus this year."

During the first year of the turnaround plan, Thames Water has launched a £1.6 billion programme to modernise sewage infrastructure and improve river health.

The company's Reunumeration Committee is also in the process of creating a new performance-related pay structure to "give a greater weight to customer service and environmental performance", rather than "financial results".