In a case brought by the Environment Agency, South West Water has been ordered to pay £35,937 in fines and costs for a series of sewage spills at Hope Cove in South Devon.
A court heard how between September 2011 and December 2012 there were several incidents where sewage was seen escaping from manholes in a lane in front of Shippen Cottages and from a manhole at Outer Hope, upstream of a sewage pumping station.
On July 7, 2012 health warning signs were erected on Harbour Beach after sewage effluent drained from manholes and onto the beach. The illegal discharge continued for at least four hours and an area of the beach remained closed for around five days.
On August 1, 2012 the chairman of the harbour commissioners at Hope Cove noticed what he described to the Agency as a second ‘heavy leak of foul water, sewage and toilet paper’ running down a lane and onto the beach. The leak continued all morning and caused concern to holidaymakers on the beach.
When the spillages were investigated they were found to have been caused by a combination of electrical and physical problems that resulted in sewage backing-up and escaping from the lowest points in the system, through a series of manholes around the harbour.
In May 2011 the Environment Agency had previously issued South West Water with a formal caution following an earlier series of sewage spills at Hope Cove in August 2010.
Specialist contractors were brought in to identify the cause of the illegal discharges that included a build up of fats and grease in the sewer, blockages in storm screens and pump capacity problems.
Pete Ball for the Environment Agency commented:
‘It is important water companies ensure their sewerage systems are properly maintained and operate to a high standard. South West Water was aware of problems at Hope Cove after spills in 2010, but only addressed some of the issues that were causing pollution. The company’s failure to implement all the suggested improvements resulted in further sewage discharges at this popular holiday resort.’
Appearing before Torquay magistrates, the water company was fined £24,000 for discharges from manholes at Hope Cove between September 2011 and December 2012 and £5,000 for an illegal discharge from Outer Hope Pumping Station on August 1, 2012. The company, which pleaded guilty to both offences, was also ordered to pay £6,787 costs plus a victim surcharge of £150.
With the UK government demanding a 50% reduction in storm overflow spills by 2029, the era of reactive management is over. Speaking in the House of Commons on 21 July 2025, then environment secretary Steve Reed said, “This Government will cut water companies’ sewage pollution in half by the end of the decade.”
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