MP slams South West Water over broken sewage monitors

New analysis of Environment Agency data by the Liberal Democrats has found a rise in the number of broken sewage monitors at areas designated for swimming water status, including popular seaside locations.

• Over 100 monitors which are supposed to measure the amount of sewage being released into popular swimming spots found to be broken
• South West Water found to be the worst offender, with over one in ten sewage monitors at bathing waters found to have been faulty last year
• Beaches in Cornwall, Devon and Sussex found to have sewage monitors broken for two years in a row
• Liberal Democrats slam “national scandal” and demand urgent fix. Families flock to the seaside for holidays during wettest July in recent years, which gives rise to fears of increased sewage overflows

Last year, 112 sewage monitors were found to be faulty in swimming water areas; one in ten of the sewage monitors installed for these sites. This is a rise year-on-year from 2021, when 88 were found to be faulty in swimming water sites.  

The worst offender for broken monitors installed in swimming waters is South West Water, which had 31 monitors broken. Beaches at Bude Bay, Dawlish Town and Lyme Regis all have sewage monitors installed which have been faulty in both 2021 and 2022.  

Overall, 52 sewage monitors in swimming water areas were found to be faulty for both 2021 and 2022, showing water firms’ negligence of their infrastructure and raising concerns that the true extent of sewage discharges is going unreported.  

Devon’s Liberal Democrat MP Richard Foord has called on South West Water to immediately fix the broken monitors at local beaches, so as to offer reassurance to millions of tourists who will flock to seaside resorts this month.  

Liberal Democrat MP for Tiverton & Honiton, Richard Foord, said:  

“The only time South West Water is number one for anything seems to be when it’s comes to its poor environmental record. That’s why the news that they have the most broken sewage monitors in the whole country is all too predictable.  

“This profiteering firm has been too busy lining the pockets of executives and shareholders instead of fixing the basic infrastructure that communities across the South West rely upon.

“With all these broken monitors, we have no idea just how much sewage is being tipped into our rivers and beaches – despite it being holiday season right now.  

“As millions of people flock to the beach this month, we need these monitors fixed. We also need to know why Ministers are content to let these disgraced firms get away with their negligence.

“The Conservative Government has buried their heads in the sand when it comes to the sewage scandal. Rather than hauling water bosses in and making them clean up after themselves, the Government has left the water industry looking almost entirely unregulated.

“Local people and tourists – including children – who are simply trying to enjoy the beach and our beautiful countryside are being put at risk because of greedy water company bosses. We need action.”