A water company has said it’s “very sorry” about a sewage leak that’s sparked a ‘don’t swim’ alert at a popular beach during peak holiday season.
People are being advised to avoid the sea at Exmouth in Devon after a pipe burst at a nearby pumping station.
The Environment Agency has issued an alert that warns people to stay out of the water, while the local council is also advising people not to swim.
The problem was reported on Wednesday night, and on Saturday evening South West Water said it was “working around the clock” to fix the problem at Maer Road pumping station.
It said tankers were moving sewage away from the site and an overland pipe had also been installed as a temporary solution.
However, it admitted “we haven’t been able to keep up with the levels of flows in the network and there have been spills from the overflow”.
“We are very sorry this has happened and understand that this will cause concern for customers and visitors to the region,” the company said on X.
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Local people have used social media to hit out at the company, as well as East Devon District Council.
“Somehow, SWW have got to be made to realise that discharging raw sewage into the sea when there has been no rainfall is simply not good enough,” said Keith Thompson on Facebook.
“Even if it is legal, they are not looking after a community that relies so heavily on tourism.”
Crissy Harris posted: “Raw sewage running down Maer Lane. Dead fish on the tide line, tankers in convoys through the centre of town. When is the EDDC going to step up!!!”
Others pointed to wider concerns over firms making money while delivering poor service and not doing enough to stop pollution.
“All they care about is their share price and they have to increase profits year on year,” claimed Matt Walmsley on Facebook.
“The only way they would clean up their act is if their share price is impacted.”
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Anger over water companies has grown as bills rise despite a doubling in sewage discharges in recent years and other problems with supply and leaks.
In May, South West Water – which announced increased profits this year – again apologised after at least 50 people caught a waterborne disease that causes diarrhoea and vomiting.
Three water companies are also facing a combined fine of £168m after a series of failings, including over sewage treatment.
Ofwat said Thames Water, Yorkshire Water and Northumbrian Water had “routinely released sewage into our rivers and seas, rather than ensuring that this only happens in exceptional circumstances as the law intends”.
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Analysis of Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs data has also suggested sewage was dumped in rivers, lakes and beaches designated “safe to bathe in” an average of 86 times a day in 2023.
Meanwhile, Environment Agency figures showed untreated sewage discharges had doubled from 1.8 million hours in 2022 to a record 3.6 million in 2023.
