Local MP calls for 'clearer reporting' on sewage spills

Accuracy of overflow data questioned as SWW defends system

Honiton and Sidmouth MP Richard Foord has called for “one reliable source of data” on sewage spills after claiming that South West Water’s live information can differ from that of a national body.

Mr Foord, a Liberal Democrat, claims SWW’s Waterfit Live map is “not entirely transparent” because of the way it reports data, suggesting that there had been discrepancies between it and Water UK’s National Storm Overflow Hub.

However, SWW has said its WaterFit Live platform shares “near real-time data” on storm overflows and that it is the “same data used on the National Storm Overflow Hub”.

Mr Foord said local residents had recorded instances last month where reports about storm overflows – whereby the sewage system releases sewage into open water to prevent it being overwhelmed during heavy rain – differed on the two systems.

An instance included during Storm Bert in late November, when Water UK’s National Storm Overflow Hub showed that on Friday 22 November at 11.30am, sewage was spilling at sea in Sidmouth.

On Monday 25 November at 7.45pm, the same source showed Sidmouth was still ‘spilling’ at sea, according to Mr Foord.

Yet, he added, SWW’s Waterfit Live map indicated that the discharge started Saturday 23 November at 10.49am and ended at 7.38pm the same day.

Mr Foord said: “It is essential that we have a single reliable source of information in order to significantly improve water quality.

“However, SWW’s Waterfit Live map lacks transparency, as it displays information about discharges from the two Sidmouth outlets in just one location. Water UK clearly distinguishes both sites on its hub.

“SWW is currently upgrading Sidmouth’s sewerage system, reducing infiltration by repairing pipes and relining some. This will reduce the volume of surface water reaching the sewers. This is welcome and is very much needed.

“However, the problem of sewage in our river and coastal waters continues to be unacceptable.”

He called for a “trusted and reliable reporting measure” to ensure people using the rivers or sea had confidence it is safe.

SWW said it receives regular signals from its event duration monitors, or EDMs, that are fitted to storm overflow tanks to measure the number and duration of spills.

This means it gets notifications when there are issues with those monitors, adding that its WaterFit Live system shows issues with any storm overflow monitors.