Latest news with #sewage
BBC News
7 hours ago
- Climate
- BBC News
What is the quality of bathing water in the South West?
Update: Date: 13:21 BST Title: What are storm overflows and why are they an issue? Content: Lisa YoungBBC News, South West The government describes storm overflows as "safety valves" built into the combined sewer system. When there is extensive rainfall, excess sewage is discharged into rivers, lakes or the sea through the system. This protects properties from flooding and stops sewage backing up in homes and streets, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs says. Campaigners say discharges from storm overflows can contain raw sewage which can contain high levels of harmful bacteria and viruses, and other pollutants such as microplastics and pharmaceuticals. Update: Date: 13:09 BST Title: 'I can see a brown slick going across the water' Content: Lisa YoungBBC News, South West I've been on Gyllyngvase Beach in Falmouth speaking to swimmers about the quality of the water. Angela Ratcliffe, who lives in the Cornish town, told me she gets in the water nearly every day. "I'm disabled and so if I get in there I'm not disabled," she says. "I can do exercises and everything in there without being in pain." She says she loves the water but she knows when not to get in. "At home I look out and can see a brown slick going across and quite often there's a lot of scum," she says. "I think it's because they've built so many houses - the infrastructure cannot take it." Update: Date: 12:58 BST Title: What do sea swimmers say about pollution? Content: This video can not be played We've been speaking to swimmers at Goodrington North beach in Torbay, Devon, about the issues around water quality. Update: Date: 12:55 BST Title: What do you think of the issues around water quality? Content: We're keen to hear your thoughts on water quality. Are you a sea or river swimmer? Do you check the testing results regularly? Share your comments by emailing us at spotlight@ external. Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy. In some cases a selection of your comments and questions will be published, displaying your name and location as you provide it unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published. Update: Date: 12:42 BST Title: South West Water backs real-time pollution testing Content: Jonathan MorrisBBC News Online South West Water says it's very supportive of real-time testing of water quality at the region's beaches and rivers. Adele Barker, group chief people officer at South West Water, says: "Testing is a complex problem, but actually we are very supportive of real-time testing and monitoring around the year. "It's done independently at the moment and our customers want that independence." Update: Date: 12:30 BST Title: Mixed picture across south-west of England Content: David BraineBBC South West senior broadcast meteorologist There is a big difference in reservoir levels from west to east. According to the UK Centre of Ecology and Hydrology's latest monthly report, it's clear there was above average rainfall in Devon and Cornwall in June, with river flow being in the normal to above normal range. Yet for Somerset and Dorset, rainfall was only 60% of the long-term average and river flow rates were in the below normal category. Individual reservoir levels also tell this story, with Wimbleball reservoir in Somerset currently at 65%, compared with 87% at this time last year and 58% in 2022, a drought year. For land, reservoirs and rivers in Somerset and Dorset to move back into the normal category, we would need sustained rain from now till autumn - and that certainly is not the forecast. Update: Date: 12:12 BST Title: Give us real-time results on pollution, say swimmers Content: Jonathan MorrisBBC News Online Tests are carried out by the Environment Agency Devon swimmers and clean water campaigners are calling for real-time testing to show pollution levels immediately at designated bathing sites. Currently tests are carried out by the Environment Agency and it can take several days for the results to be published. Rhian Manley is a coach at Devon Sea Swim, which uses the free app from Surfers Against Sewage., external "It actually gives us indications where there are predicted failures and actual failures," she says. "That's being done by an independent organisation, can't we make this better and more accessible to the public?" Adele Barker from South West Water says water quality is improving and it's investing £3.2bn in the region. Update: Date: 12:00 BST Title: Reservoir levels do not give the whole picture Content: David BraineBBC South West senior broadcast meteorologist The overall water storage held in our reservoirs is currently at 74% - this compares with the same time last year at close to 90% full. It can also be compared with the drought year of 2022, when at the same time the level was 60%. The exceptionally dry spring, which was also accompanied by brisk easterly winds, has led to low soil moisture content. This is largely down to high transpiration - or the way plants move water from their roots to their leaves. So while reservoir levels appear to be healthy, rivers and moisture content of the land are not. Update: Date: 11:48 BST Title: Cornwall charity wants better access to water company fines Content: Tamsin MelvilleBBC News, South West A storm overflow in to the St Austell River in January 2024 A Cornwall charity is calling for a better system to distribute money to organisations when water companies are fined for failings. The previous government introduced a Water Restoration Fund, with £11m from penalties recently distributed to local projects instead of going to the Treasury. Nick Taylor, of Three Bays Wildlife Group, says he had to withdraw a funding application because most of the money would've been paid in arrears. "We do not have the funds for that, we would have had to find another grant to get the money - it's ridiculous," he said. Defra says more than £100m in water company fines will go to local environmental projects and it will offer more detail "in due course". Update: Date: 11:37 BST Title: South West Water leadership to change hands Content: South West Water chief executive Susan Davy announced she was retiring from the company earlier this month. The announcement came a day after the firm agreed to pay a £24m enforcement package following a three-year investigation into failures in managing wastewater treatment works and sewer networks. Speaking to BBC Spotlight's Victoria Graham in May, Ms Davy addressed criticism over bill rises, sewage spills and her remuneration. This video can not be played Update: Date: 11:20 BST Title: Rowers have 'strict regime' to tackle pollution Content: James Churchfield from BBC Radio Cornwall has been speaking to the Fowey River Canoe Club's James Asser. He says the club has a "strict regime" to combat pollution - including getting people to shower straight after getting out of the water. Competitors are also wary of keeping their hands free of contamination by always ensuring they are washed. Mr Asser says: "That sort of thing has aided in our success." Update: Date: 11:05 BST Title: Campaign aims to 'give river its sparkle back' Content: Lisa YoungBBC News, South West Across Devon and Cornwall, volunteers are setting about restoring waterways, including the "sick" River Otter. They say the middle and lower parts of the River Otter, in Devon, is so contaminated with sewage-related pollutants, it is now classed in the bottom fifth of England's rivers for water quality. The Otter Valley Association says figures show the river, rated poor by the Environment Agency, had the highest phosphate levels of any major watercourse in Devon and Cornwall. The EA says about 70% of the phosphate levels come from the sewage system. The association reports South West Water (SWW) had discharged untreated sewage into the River Otter for more than 15,000 hours in 2024. Campaigners say they met with SWW representatives last month and were told the water firm had no plans to invest in that section of infrastructure for at least the next five years. Chairman Haylor Lass says: "This river is the lifeblood of our landscape, and it's been neglected for far too long. We are standing together - locals, anglers, experts and nature lovers - to give the Otter back its sparkle." Update: Date: 10:56 BST Title: 'Absolutely no plans for hosepipe ban' Content: Adele Barker, chief people officer at South West Water, says reservoir levels across Devon and Cornwall are "very healthy". "We suffered a drought in 2022, and as a result of that we invested £150m in the region, making sure we were well prepared for any hot season," she says. "That's not to say that everybody should not do their bit to preserve water. "As I sit here now we have absolutely no plans for a hosepipe ban in the South West." South West Water's reservoirs are at 74.3% capacity, according to the latest figures. Update: Date: 10:42 BST Title: Water boss on bills and spills Content: South West Water's group chief people officer Adele Barker has been speaking to BBC Radio Cornwall's James Churchfield. This video can not be played Update: Date: 10:33 BST Title: Can bathing water quality be tested in real time? Content: Kirk EnglandBBC South West environment and tourism correspondent Dr Kieron Fraser is developing an autonomous water quality testing system to be trialled in a buoy in Cawsand Bay Swimmers are amongst those calling for "real-time" testing to show current pollution levels at bathing water sites. The Environment Agency (EA) carries out tests at beaches and rivers but it can take several days for the results to be published. Marianne Daysh, of the St Agnes Water Users Group, says: "You could potentially be swimming around in sewage, so real-time testing would really help." The EA says the current system is "consistent and scientific" and designed to "build a detailed, accurate long-term profile of a site". Scientists at the University of Plymouth are developing an autonomous water quality testing system on a buoy to take and analyse water samples "as frequently as every 15 minutes". Update: Date: 10:25 BST Title: 'Such a shame' bay can't be used all the time Content: Ben Flowe, chairman of Torbay Tri Club, says he checks the quality of the water before allowing people to swim. "If the water quality is bad, which it has been, especially last year, we have to cancel sessions," he says. "Members then get upset and we have to say it's for your safety, but that ends up being a detriment to the club." He says he wants more people to exercise but the bay can't be used all the time due to water quality. "It's such a shame," he says. Update: Date: 10:18 BST Title: Dog walker uses app to keep her pooch safe Content: Carole Eves, from Goodrington Sands in Paignton, says she uses an app on her phone to check water quality. She says her dog Daisy loves swimming and she the app tells her whether there have been any recent spills. Update: Date: 10:11 BST Title: We will work with new ombudsman - water boss Content: In one of the biggest shake-ups of the water sector in years, the government says water firms will be overseen by a new ombudsman who will tackle leaky pipes, incorrect bills and other issues, external. Speaking to BBC Radio Cornwall, South West Water's Adele Barker says the company is ready to be held to account. "We are very supportive of all the recommendations and we will absolutely work with an ombudsman," she says. "We want to do anything we can to reassure customers that we are committed to improving services." Update: Date: 09:54 BST Title: 'People are bothered about what's going into the bay' Content: Hattie McCannBBC Radio Devon I'm at Goodrington North beach, near Paignton in Devon, and I've been paddling and sea swimming with a group of regulars who come here every day. They've been sharing their concerns about water quality and what they want to change. It's a lovely day and everybody is enjoying themselves, but they are bothered about what's going into the bay and the price of their bills. Update: Date: 09:45 BST Title: New housing having an impact, SWW says Content: Housing developments are putting pressure on South West Water's network, according to the firm. Adele Barker, chief people officer at the utility, says: "We are very supportive of housing and what it brings to the economic growth of the region. "Absolutely we would like to be involved as early as possible in planning decisions so we can work proactively."
BBC News
14 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Devon swimmers call for real-time testing of bathing waters
Swimmers and clean water campaigners are calling for "real-time" testing to show immediate pollution levels at designated bathing water sites. Currently tests are carried out at beaches and rivers by the Environment Agency (EA) and it can take several days for the results to be Daysh, of the St Agnes Water Users Group in Cornwall, said: "You could potentially be swimming around in sewage, so real-time testing would really help."The EA said the current system of regular testing during the bathing water season was "consistent and scientific" and designed to "build a detailed, accurate long-term profile of a site". 'Eye infections' On Monday a long-awaited review into England and Wales' troubled water sector was released, with Sir Jon Cunliffe's Water Commission recommending the scrapping of water regulator Sunday the environment secretary Steve Reed pledged the number of times sewage is discharged by water companies will be halved by 2030. Ms Daysh, who swims in the sea all year round, said: "I've had eye infections and stomach upsets because of pollution."Instant testing would make things much simpler and much safer." The calls for real-time testing are also being supported by the campaign group Surfers Against Sewage (SAS).Its Safer Seas Service mobile app provides information on when water quality could have been impacted by sewage spills, but without specific detail on pollution levels, in a similar way to South West Water's WaterFit Live. "People get sick using our waters and it's not good enough," Kirsty Davies, from SAS said."The legislation currently is not in a good state. "People deserve to enter the water knowing what they are swimming, surfing or paddling in." At the moment, designated bathing waters are sampled regularly by the Environment Agency (EA) between 1 May and 30 September. Samples are taken by hand and sent to a lab to be tested for two types of bacteria, ecoli and intestinal enterococci. It can take several days for the results to be posted on the EA's Swimfo website. A growing number of community groups are also carrying out their own tests at sites popular with swimmers and other water users, including on the River Teign in Devon. "People are worried about sewage in the river," Stuart Reynolds, from the Friends of the River Teign (FORT) group, said. The group has been using a real-time device that can indicate levels of pollution. "Most of the time the river is clean, but people need to know when it's not. We're looking at ways that will hopefully provide us with that information, where people could pick up on their phone, straight away," he added. The group hopes the test results will lead to measures being taken to improve water quality in the river, which can be impacted by factors including agricultural run-off. Carolyn Sargentson, from FORT, said: "This is more complicated than it seems. It's not just sewage spills, although that is a huge problem."There are a lot of diverse and complex reasons why the water isn't always good enough to swim. "We feel that if we get our voices heard we might be able to do something good for the water and the people who use it." The calls come as scientists at the University of Plymouth have developed an autonomous water quality testing system on a buoy that could be placed in rivers or the sea to take and analyse water samples "as frequently as every 15 minutes". Dr Kieron Fraser, associate professor in marine conservation at the University of Plymouth, said: "We are developing this kit as there is a demand for a more accurate testing of our bathing waters."The project, a collaboration between the University of Plymouth and the university's spinout company Molendotech Ltd, is funded by a £330,000 grant from Innovate year, Wessex Water installed real-time monitors at swimming spots as part of a trial, backed by funding from the water regulator Ofwat. South West Water (SWW) said it was "absolutely committed to improving water quality".The company added: "97.5% of bathing waters across our region passed Defra's strict standards in 2024 – with more than 96% rated 'Good' or 'Excellent'." It also said it had reduced storm overflow spills at 15 out of 20 of the highest spilling sites across Cornwall and Devon over the last 11 months."We're delivering one of the biggest environmental investment programmes in the country – with £850 million being invested between 2020 and 2025, and a further £2.8 billion proposed from 2025 to 2030 to accelerate environmental improvements."The water regulator Ofwat has proposed £24m enforcement action against SWW over 'systemic' failures in the way the company managed its network. 'Long-term patterns' The EA said its testing system was not designed to "say what the water quality at bathing waters is on any given day"."Its job is to build a detailed, accurate long-term profile of a site to inform the public's decision of where to visit," it "consistent and scientific" sampling process system provided an overall classification for each location "based on long-term patterns", a spokesperson EA said it "welcomed the role citizen science monitoring can play" and was working with Defra to understand how new measures, such as removing the fixed monitoring season which runs from May to end of September, would be delivered and funded. A Defra spokesperson said bathing water cleanliness was "paramount" and it was "updating outdated bathing water regulations, including removing fixed bathing season dates, so that more people have the opportunity to experience the benefits of our beautiful waters".
The Guardian
a day ago
- Business
- The Guardian
‘Less reorganising, more doing': landmark report alone won't fix broken water sector
It started with sewage. Few environmental crises evoke such visceral public anger as pumping poo into waterways, but for years, that is exactly what water companies in England and Wales have done in large volumes. Their failure to build infrastructure, plug leaks and protect nature has infuriated customers who at the same time have struggled with soaring water bills. It has also shocked European neighbours whose publicly owned water companies keep things far cleaner. Critics say the increasingly sorry state of the UK's waterways is the result of mismanagement and underinvestment by debt-ridden water companies who were allowed to run wild by toothless regulators. The problem, as they see it, is the environmental conundrum at the heart of the modern consumer paradigm: public goods such as healthy rivers and clean beaches do not appear on company balance sheets. Why should corporations – which have a duty to create value for their shareholders – look after public goods? And if governments won't force them to, should we really expect them to look after the environment? In this case, after a landmark report into the troubled sector on Monday, the government announced it would combine the powers of four water industry watchdogs – which had competing economic and environmental aims – into one entity with oversight for the sector. It promised 'strong ministerial directives' and an end to its light touch approach. 'A single, powerful regulator responsible for the entire water sector will stand firmly on the side of customers, investors and the environment, and prevent the abuses of the past,' said Steve Reed, the UK environment secretary. The adopted proposal is just one of 88 recommendations from a report by an independent water commission– the bulk of which the government will consider over the summer – and the response from environmental experts has so far been muted. Hannah Cloke, a hydrologist at the University of Reading, said water industry reforms were 'long overdue and badly needed' but warned against spending years setting up new structures while rivers stay polluted and reservoirs run dry. 'The real challenge isn't designing better systems on paper – it's getting companies to actually fix leaking pipes, stop dumping sewage, and build the infrastructure we need,' she said. 'Less reorganising, more doing.' The report contains a number of recommendations that could help improve water quality and manage its supply, such as better third-party monitoring, new infrastructure standards, compulsory smart meters and a ban on wet wipes with plastic. It considers drawing from new EU rules to make polluters pay for the extra treatments needed to clean up emerging micropollutants, which could eventually include long-lasting Pfas and microplastics. The report also calls for the updating of existing environmental laws, in addition to overhauling the regulators. The proposed 'streamlining' includes setting a new long-term target for the health of water bodies in England and Wales – though the move might tempt ministers to lower ambition, given that the existing targets are set to be missed. Mark Lloyd, chief executive of the Rivers Trust, said it was understandable that 'many people will have wanted this report to go further' but that he believed the recommendations, if implemented, would lead to a 'dramatic improvement' in the water environment and more cost-effective delivery. Most of all, though, the report has also come under fire for what it has left out. Adrian Ramsay, co-leader of the Green party, compared the proposed regulatory changes to 'rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic'. 'Not only that, but the majority of the public are going to be expected to pay more in bills, as we watch the industry continue to sink under the failed model of privatisation,' he said. 'The government deliberately left out the option of public ownership from the review, but that's the only real way to get the water industry to clean up its act.' That outcome isn't guaranteed. When the water companies were privatised in 1989, the UK was regarded as 'the dirty man of Europe'. A trip to its beaches shows it has come full-circle.
Telegraph
a day ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Mapped: The summer holiday beaches flooded with sewage
One of Britain's best beaches is among dozens blighted by sewage spills as school summer holidays begin. Swimmers are being urged to think carefully before entering the water at Gorleston-on-Sea in Great Yarmouth after heavy rain over the weekend set off storm overflows. The beach, named the 23rd best in Europe by TripAdvisor in 2025, is among 139 coastal locations around the country where sewage has been released over the past two days. Others include popular seaside resorts in Cornwall, Sussex and the North East. Labour has sought to prove it still maintains a grip on water companies after a scathing independent report by Sir Jon Cunliffe, a senior civil servant. Sir Jon said water bills were set to rise by 30 per cent in the next five years and compared the water crisis to the 'Great Stink' of 1888, in which untreated human waste and industrial effluent produced putrid smells and rampant disease. 'I have more than once thought of the Great Stink when leading the Independent Water Commission on water over the last nine months,' Sir Jon said in a speech in London, adding: 'In recent years, some companies have manifestly acted in their private interest but against the public interest and that must be prevented in future.' Responding to the review, the Environment Secretary announced the Government would scrap Ofwat, the water regulation authority, as part of the 'biggest overhaul of water regulation in a generation'. But Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), a marine conservation charity, dismissed the move as 'toothless tinkering' and demanded the Government commit to tangible reform. It said: 'Voters are tired of swimming in sewage and drowning in ever-rising bills.'
The Independent
a day ago
- Business
- The Independent
Ofwat scrapped to end water regulation that ‘failed customers and environment'
Ofwat will be abolished as part of an overhaul of a 'broken' water regulation system that failed customers and the environment, the Government has confirmed. Environment Secretary Steve Reed made the announcement in response to an independent review by Sir Jon Cunliffe commissioned by the Government to answer public fury over pollution in rivers, lakes and seas, soaring bills, shareholder pay outs and bosses' bonuses. Mr Reed said the move to create a single 'powerful' regulator taking in the functions of four existing bodies with overlapping functions would curb pollution and 'prevent the abuses of the past for customers'. He said it would ensure ' British families are never again hit by the shocking bill hikes we saw last year', and committed to cut water companies' sewage pollution in half within five years.
