A councillor has raised concerns about water being discharged into the river by Severn Trent.

John Renshaw, a parish councillor in St Peter’s, filmed “greeny brown” water being discharged into Diglis Basin from the water company’s treatment works on Saturday (August 13).

Severn Trent said the water pictured is “absolutely not” sewage and is actually something called ‘final effluent’ - water that has been through the final stage of treatment and disinfection before being released back into the watercourse.

This is done under monitored and controlled consents and permits from the Environment Agency.

Worcester News: 'Final effluent' being discharged into the River Severn'Final effluent' being discharged into the River Severn (Image: John Renshaw)

Cllr Renshaw said he noticed the water being discharged into the river while cycling through Riverside Park in Worcester on Saturday afternoon.

“I walked along the same route at 11.30am on Sunday morning and it was still being discharged 21 hours later,” he said.

“Whatever the discharge was, it had a greeny brown colour and was foaming up along the banks of the river. I dread to think what was in it.

“As you can see from some of the photos, whatever it was that Severn Trent discharged into the River Severn created foam downstream from the sewage treatment works outlet close to the fish ladder to a point roughly 100 metres south of the Diglis footbridge.

“I’m sure that Severn Trent will say the discharge was compliant but I certainly wouldn’t have wanted to be canoeing, paddle boarding or angling with a discharge like that taking place nearby.”

Luke McCusker, senior river ranger at Severn Trent, said: "We'd like to reassure people that what can be seen is water that has gone through the final stage of our treatment process.

“As a precaution, the site operators have inspected the area and outlets, and we can confirm this is a normal controlled release of treated water back to the watercourse with all the correct consent and permits from the Environment Agency.”