Bicycle Nation, a bike shop in Herne Hill, south London, is facing closure because of an acrid smell from Thames Water sewers that makes it impossible to work inside. The owner, Tamas Polocz, and his mechanics fear for their health and the shop's future, with no date set for resolving the problem.
The stench, thought to be caused by untreated sewage stuck in Thames Water drains, has been emanating for months, most likely due to the summer's lack of rain. It is so strong that the shop has had to bar some customers, and mechanics have been forced to work on the pavement outside.
Health fears and business impact
Polocz has complained to Thames Water since the smell first hit in June, causing his colleague Nick to vomit. Last week, the company accepted that a mains sewer directly beneath the shop was to blame, but has not offered a date for fixing it. Polocz and his team of 11 fear for their physical and mental health after repeated exposure.
The odour comes in putrid wafts at least five times a day, according to a "smell chart" used to log each incident. Descriptions include "cabbage", "teargas", "onions", "spicy BBQ" and repeated references to "shit". When the Guardian arrived, there was a whiff of rotten eggs, but within minutes a repulsive gas hit the back of the throat, forcing everyone outside.
Owner's ordeal
"It's unbearable," said Polocz. "You can't be in the shop when it comes." He added: "It has a really strong physical presence. This is a smell you take home with you. It's in your hair, on your skin, sometimes it feels it's inside your skin. When you go home and cough, you taste it again."
Thames Water initially suggested a gas leak, but tests by the local gas supplier ruled that out. Polocz said he had been battling the company weekly. "Thames Water have always tried to push me away, or blame others. When they finally accepted liability last week I just broke down. But we still don't have a date for fixing it."
Cause and expert insight
The exact cause remains unknown, but a Thames Water engineer told Polocz it was likely linked to the lack of rain, and that a cast-iron ventilation pipe that previously drew odours away had not been replaced. Experts warn that during dry periods, untreated sewage builds up with no rainwater to flush it out, emitting foul-smelling gas in wafts.
Prof Barbara Evans, chair of public health engineering at Leeds University, said: "It sounds like methane and it's probably unsafe working conditions. Biological processes are cyclical just like in your digestive system, which is why sewer smells come in wafts."
Uncertain future
Rainfall has not helped. "Even after the rain there was still the smell," said Polocz. Evans noted: "The first flushes of rain will probably make things smell worse because it just stirs things up. It needs a lot of rain to clear."
Harriet Talbot, a board member of Bicycle Nation, said: "You can't run a business relying on the weather." She helped set up a webpage for a collect and repair service to help the shop survive. Polocz said the shop is unsustainable because staff evacuate so frequently, and cold weather will make working outside impossible.
The stress is taking its toll. "I'm 49, but today I feel 62-ish," Polocz said. "We have guys calling in sick. It affects you both physically and mentally." He added: "The last thought of the day and the first thought of the day are now both the same. And I wake up at night thinking: what are we going to do about it?"
Evans said the situation "underlines the need for a rethink of our sewers. The system was designed for a climate that we just don't currently have any more." A Thames Water spokesperson said: "Our teams are investigating the source of an odour reported at a bike shop. Initial investigations have confirmed there are no blockages in the sewers surrounding the property. Odour monitors are to be installed, which will enable engineers to detect, measure and track odorous gases in real time and help determine the exact cause."
