South West Water has issued an apology after a sewage leak prompted a “don’t swim” warning at Exmouth Beach, a popular destination in Devon, right in the middle of the holiday season. The leak occurred after a pipe burst at a nearby pumping station, leading to warnings from the Environment Agency and the local council for people to avoid the water.
The issue was first reported on Wednesday, and by Saturday evening, South West Water announced that they were “working around the clock” to resolve the situation at the Maer Road pumping station. On Sunday, the company confirmed that a temporary fix had been implemented, allowing the pipe to function again. However, tankers will remain on-site as a precautionary measure while further repairs are planned.
“We apologize to both residents and visitors for the disruption caused by this event and appreciate their patience,” South West Water stated.
Residents and visitors have expressed frustration, with some taking to social media to criticize the company’s handling of the situation. Keith Thompson shared on Facebook, “Discharging raw sewage into the sea when there’s been no rainfall is simply unacceptable. Even if it’s legal, it doesn’t show care for a community that heavily depends on tourism.”
Others echoed similar concerns, accusing water companies of prioritizing profits over the environment and public health. “All they care about is their share price,” one person commented on Facebook. “The only way they would change is if their share price took a hit.”
A woman visiting from London expressed her disappointment, saying, “It’s the middle of August, and the beach is practically empty. It’s really sad for the tourist trade, for the town, and for people who came here for their holiday.”
Public anger towards water companies has been growing as bills continue to rise, despite an increase in sewage discharges and other issues like leaks. Earlier this year, South West Water apologized after over 50 people contracted a waterborne illness linked to the company’s supply.
Three other water companies—Thames Water, Yorkshire Water, and Northumbrian Water—are also facing a combined £168 million fine for repeated failures, including routine sewage releases into rivers and seas, which are supposed to occur only in exceptional circumstances.
The Environment Agency’s data shows that untreated sewage discharges doubled from 1.8 million hours in 2022 to a record 3.6 million hours in 2023, further highlighting the ongoing concerns over pollution and