THAMES Water has been given a 28 day extension to get rid of a foul smell from the East Acton pumping station.

The utility company now has until October 3 to continue investigating ways to contain and treat the odour, including ways of covering the tanks, Hammersmith and Fulham Council confirmed.

The council has received 40 complaints about the storm tanks since November last year and recently threatened Thames Water with legal action unless they dealt with the problem by September 6.

Ian Creelman, 62, who has lived by the pumping station on Warple Way since 1991, said: “There has been a big improvement but they [Thames Water] can do much more.

“It is not acceptable, in this day and age, for people to have to live with that smell.”

The odour is said to be caused when heavy rainfall means the sewer system reaches its maximum capacity and overflows into the storm tanks.

It can last for several days in periods of continued wet weather, when sewage builds up at the bottom of the tanks.

Resident Mukhtar Mohamed, 19, said: “When it’s bad, you can smell it inside the house, it’s that strong.

“You have to keep the windows closed.”

Thames Water said they had been upgrading the tank cleaning system since September last year, and residents are hoping the increased activity on site will lead to a noticeable improvement.

The works have included installing larger motors to prevent solids building up, jet washing points to clean the tanks and an automated control system to accelerate the drain down process.

A Thames Water spokesman said: “We’ve been upgrading Acton storm pumping station, which is a key part of our sewer network in London, to help minimise odour.

“We’re sorry for any disruption this work has caused, and we’ll continue to work with the local residents and councils to keep them informed of all the improvements.”

Ealing Council is working with Hammersmith Council to support the enforcement action, after receiving 12 complaints about the pumping station this year.

Residents from Ealing who are affected by any smell or noise from the pumping station can report their concerns to the council’s noise and pollution team on 020 8825 8111.