Ten worst sites for sewage spills into the River Dart
Recent media reports have highlighted that sewage spills are getting worse, not better. Friends of the Dart explored the data released by the Environment agency on spills in 2023 to see what the situation is on the river Dart.
There are 44 sites where South West Water (SWW) have a permit from the Environment Agency to release sewage into the river Dart (or one of its tributaries). SWW are required by law to treat water ‘effectively’ and only permits overflows to discharge in ‘exceptional circumstances’
However, information on when sewage is released is very limited. While almost all sites monitor sewage overflows in real time, this data is released only once a year. The following are reported:
The total number of spills
The duration of these spills (in hours)
Reasons for high spill frequency (in cases where it has been investigated)
This makes it impossible for us to know when these spills happened or what volume of sewage was released. This is inadequate to determine if SWW (and other water companies) are meeting their obligations under the law.
Which are the worst offenders?
If we look at the total duration of spills then the following sites are the worst.
If we look instead at the sites with the most spills then seven of the sites remain the same. There are three additional ones to consider.
What action should South West Water and the Environment agency take?
In cases where a site reports 60 or more spills a year an investigation is required to understand why. Investigations have been reported for all of the sites above. For Scorriton, Buckfastleigh and Rattery these are still underway, even though Buckfastleigh reported over 100 spills a year since 2020.
For Broadhempston, Dartington and Dartmouth they are confirmed as maintenance issues. In other sites they reference ‘lack of hydraulic capacity’ to process the volumes of sewage and waste water passing through the system. A cost benefit analysis determines what action (if any) is taken.
What action are Friends of the Dart taking?
Last year we coordinated four applications for bathing water status at Totnes, Stoke Gabriel, Dittisham and Dartmouth with over 7000 letters of support from local businesses, farmers, councillors, schools, organisations and individuals. If successful this will require action by the water company to reduce spills at these sites to no more then 10 a year and 2 between mid May and the end of September. If these sites are deemed by Defra as coastal the area included will be 1km up and downstream of the site. If they are deemed river sites then 5km upstream will be considered.
We are working with SWW to better understand what has been done to assess the problems with these (and other) sites. As well as what actions are planned to fix the problems - and by when. As part of this we are calling for them to make real time data on sewage spills available to us. We are aiming initially for data transparency so that our communities can be accurately informed. We are working towards a legal agreement to this effect and creating a framework and platform that will link other rivers into this progression.
Friends of the Dart are starting their phase two testing programme which includes high quality lab testing of bacteria in the river from source to sea. We will add the analysis of chemicals to this programme. This testing will run year round and the results will be posted to our website along with other partner platforms.
What action can you take?
In cases where sites are being investigated, one criteria considered is the number of ‘justified public complaints to water companies, local authorities or the Environment Agency’. If you live close to one of these sites and have noticed problems, please make a formal complaint (and let Friends of the Dart know). In the event of visible pollution in the water please take photographs, note the time and date and call the Environment agency hotline on 0800807060.
Join the friends of the Dart movement, support your river by registering for our newsletter updates and following us on social media. Spread the word and tell your community, friends and family. Donate or sponsor Friends of the Dart to help make this all possible, more on this to follow.