After the Environment Agency informed me of potentially illegal sewage spills in Exmouth last week, I met with South West Water yesterday to challenge them on this and other unacceptable spills that occurred in Sidmouth, Budleigh Salterton and Seaton.
South West Water’s Chief Operating Officer outlined the steps they are taking to address their infrastructure failings which caused the spills. This includes last week’s non-compliant – and therefore potentially illegal – sewage spills into Exmouth’s Sandy Bay due to a power failure at Maer Lane Sewage Treatment Works.
I made it clear that South West Water’s infrastructure must be more resilient against poor weather. I will be meeting them again soon to review progress on the actions they’ve taken following the incidents and to assess the state of storm overflows across East Devon.
I have also asked the Environment Agency to carry out a separate independent investigation into the spills last week. I’ll continue to work with them to put pressure on South West Water to clean up their act and our water.