MP BROKERS DEAL TO CLOSE TWO RAW SEWAGE OUTLETS RELEASING INTO PLYMOUTH SOUND

After a nine month campaign by local MP, Luke Pollard, the source of the raw sewage discharges at Devil’s Point has been identified as two private sewers taking waste from local properties out to sea. 

Luke has hosted a series of meetings for affected local residents and South West Water to agree a way forward. Working with residents, they activated a clause in the Water Industry Act 1991 to ask South West Water to officially take on their sewage connection. 

South West Water engineers have conducted surveys of the private sewers originally built when the area was owned by the Ministry of Defence, and confirmed they are releasing untreated sewage into Plymouth Sound.  

Their engineers have proposed a plan to divert the flow into SWW’s main sewers on the Stonehouse Peninsula, stopping the discharges. If South West Water bosses approve the scheme, then work could begin in the autumn with discharges brought to an end by Christmas 2023. 

Luke Pollard, Member of Parliament for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, said: 

“I don’t just talk about stopping sewage, I’m proud to be taking action to stop raw sewage discharges. 

“After winning the campaign to designate Devil’s Point as an official bathing water in May, I turned my attention to stopping the sewage discharges into this now protected piece of water. 

“I want to thank South West Water for working so collaboratively and swiftly with local residents to help us identify the discharges from these two private sewers and to hatch a plan to stop the discharges. By working with local residents and South West Water we hope to shut down discharges by Christmas.” 

 A South West Water spokesperson said:  

“We’re pleased to be working collaboratively with Luke Pollard MP and local residents as we look to agree on a solution to stopping these discharges at Firestone Bay. 

“The South West has some of the best bathing waters in Europe and our priority is always to protect the environment as much as we possibly can. 

“That’s why we are proud to have achieved 100% coastal bathing water quality across 860 miles of coastline for the second year in a row, with 99% rated as ‘Good’ or ‘Excellent’ compared to just 28% in 1991.” 

The official bathing water status won in May 2023 means that the area takes a higher priority in ending raw sewage discharges than before its status was won. This makes it a priority for South West Water and the Environment Agency to regulate water quality at Devil’s Point since the bathing water status was awarded earlier this year. 

Section 101a of the Water Industry Act 1991 sets out the process for formally connecting first-time sewerage to the affected properties and the final stage is South West Water formally agreeing to take on the sewage discharges from the private sewers which is expected in the coming weeks. 

The two private sewers have been releasing raw sewage into Plymouth Sound for decades. Residents were unaware that their waste was being released into the sea before being contacted by Luke Pollard MP. The affected homes border Royal William Yard. All affected residents have been involved in the campaign.