Outrage as water company starts pumping wastewater into one of Britain's most famous rivers, famous for its salmon and trout fisheries

Furious residents living on the banks of the Test Chalk Stream in Hampshire have said planned pumping works from Southern Water could bring an 'Olympic swimming pool' of sewage into the river every day.

The Test in Hampshire, one of around 200 chalk streams in the world, is famous for its salmon and trout fishing and its diverse wildlife.

Fishing on the water is so famous that it has attracted the royal family, former US President George Bush Senior and other celebrities including Jeremy Paxman, Vinnie Jones and Nicolas Cage.

Chris Tarrant is also a regular fisherman on the banks of the Test and regularly speaks about its importance.

But Southern Water has set up a temporary pump to flush water to the Test at Chilbolton Cow Common, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Southern Water contractors are setting up filtration systems at Chilbolton Cow Common

Southern Water says they will set up a temporary pump to flush water to the test at Chilbolton Cow Common, a site of special scientific interest

Chris Tarrant is also a regular fisherman on the banks of the Test and regularly speaks about its importance

Locals have been informed that pumping would begin today and Southern Water has also said it plans to do the same in the nearby village of Longparish from next week.

However, residents of both Chilbolton and Longparish are opposing the move, complaining they were not consulted.

A resident of Chilbolton Cow Common, who did not want to be named, said Southern Water did something similar in 2014 when it pumped 2.6 million liters of sewage a day into the area's river.

She said: 'Southern Water's documents show they are discharging 10 to 30 liters per second. Based on simple calculations, this could result in between 864,000 and 2.6 million liters of wastewater per day being discharged directly into an SSSI.

'You're looking at sewage the size of an Olympic swimming pool being pumped into the river every day.

“This week they came and installed filter systems on the Common. They closed off access to the village via the bridge. It's a big, big problem.

'This raises serious questions about ecology and health. None of the residents were consulted. It is unclear who was and was not consulted. Has Natural England given permission for waste water to be pumped onto an SSSI?'

A Longparish resident said the part of River Test that runs through the village is home to varied and spectacular wildlife including trout, Atlantic salmon, voles and otters.

They said: 'So it appears they are planning to cause controlled pollution, something Southern Water seems to have had problems with before.

'They intend to pollute the River Test with only partially treated sewage, removing the solid mass but leaving the remainder which will break down after dumping and which will contain many contaminants. '

Southern Water has not confirmed how long the pumping will take

Southern Water says it has consulted with the local government and the Environment Agency about this activity

The Test is one of approximately 200 chalk streams in the world and is renowned for its salmon and trout fishing and its diverse wildlife

However, Southern Water has explained that its network in Chilbolton is under severe pressure due to high levels of groundwater infiltrating sewers and private pipes, and must drain excess water to prevent the area from flooding.

A spokesperson for Southern Water said: 'Our network in Chilbolton is under severe pressure due to high groundwater levels infiltrating Southern Water's private pipes and sewers.

“To prevent flooding of customers' homes, businesses and other community buildings, we have set up a temporary land pump to remove excess water from the area. This follows the long-standing use of tankers in the village, which feedback from residents has been disruptive.

'These streams are composed almost entirely of groundwater, with only a very small amount of wastewater, and are treated before entering the environment. We will be closely monitoring the environmental impact of this to ensure there are no significant impacts on the watercourse.

'We are working hard to find a more permanent solution to the groundwater problem facing Chilbolton and will keep residents informed of progress as soon as possible.'

The spokesperson could not confirm how long the pumping would take or how much water would be pumped to the river.

The company said it has been in contact with the local government and the environment agency about this activity.

A decision to subsequently inform Natural England was taken in consultation with the environment agency, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson could not confirm whether Southern Water had been sanctioned by Natural England to begin work.

MailOnline has contacted Natural England for more information.