Exclusive: New data reveals when raw sewage discharges happen at Exmouth beach

Raw sewage has been discharged mostly in autumn and winter at Exmouth beach over the past three years, according to new data Nub News has obtained from South West Water.

The worst months on average have been February with 196 hours of discharges, December with 173 hours, and October with 146 hours.

The untreated sewage is discharged from a storm overflow off Maer Rocks near Exmouth Lifeboat Station (grid ref. SY 0111 7968).

Map showing storm overflow location at Exmouth beach (Apple Maps)

The data also reveals that a large amount of discharges happen outside of the Environment Agency's water quality testing period, which lasts from 1 May to 30 September each year.

The public body rated Exmouth 'excellent' for the 2021 and 2019 bathing seasons (there was no rating for 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic). These ratings have helped the beach, among over 30 other criteria, get Blue Flag awards.

Local resident Marcia Fletcher, who swims year-round at Exmouth, said: "Swimming in the sea all year round connects me with my environment and my fellow swimmers. It really lifts my spirits and is such a buzz. 

"Since lockdown it has become even more of a community event, with many people finding it supports their mental wellbeing.   

"Finding out that the water is being regularly polluted with sewage outflows and that my fellow swimmers are catching infections is just devastating."

Raw sewage discharges up over 170 per cent in two years

The total hours of raw sewage discharges by year is also on the rise.

The same storm overflow off Maer Rocks discharged for a total of 634 hours in 2019, 857 hours in 2020, and 1128 hours in 2021. The 2021 total is equivalent to 47 days and nights non-stop.

However, at a recent question-and-answer session at Exmouth Town Council, a South West Water boss said that spills for 2022 are showing "significant reductions" with the duration of spills at this storm overflow totalling 93 hours as of 10 October. (The 2022 data set will be released next year by the Environment Agency).

South West Water plans upgrades to tackle problem

Most sewers in the UK are 'combined', meaning they take rainwater and sewage. Storm overflows are designed to prevent these from flooding on land during heavy rain by discharging into rivers and the sea.

South West Water told Nub News that it has plans to reduce raw sewage discharges at Exmouth.

The water company would pass excess stormwater to its Maer Lane treatment works and release it off Straight Point further out to sea. It also plans to upgrade the Maer Lane treatment works, meaning that more sewage can be treated prior to its release.

A spokesperson said: "South West Water have planned works in Exmouth which propose elements of both surface water separation and infiltration reduction in the catchment.

"These initiatives will reduce the overall volumes being received at the wastewater treatment works (WWTW) [at Maer Lane].

"To reduce the spill frequency, it is proposed to increase the flow passed forward from Phear Park and Maer Road pumping stations to the sewage treatment works.

"This flow will pass through the WWTW storm tanks and discharge through the combined final effluent and settled storm outfall off Straight Point. Detailed coastal hydrodynamic modelling has been carried out to ensure no detriment to any designated waters in the area.

"The strategy also includes for doubling the capacity of treatment at the works in a follow-up project in the next planning period. With the capacity doubled the outfall will pass more fully treated final effluent and much less settled storm flows.

"The current project is targeting [fewer than] 10 significant spills per annum at Phear Park and Maer Road outfalls. In addition the subsequent upgrade would reduce the WWTW settled storm spills to [fewer than] 10 per annum also.

"In addition we are reviewing the Hartop Road overflow performance under our WaterFit initiative, with potential surface water separation works possible by 2025."

You can find regular updates about raw sewage discharges on Surfers Against Sewage's Safer Seas Service, and locations of storm overflows and further data here on a map produced by the Rivers Trust.