Latest from Geoff Crawford Escape (End sewage convoys and pollution, Exmouth), commenting on a letter from Budleigh District Councillor Henry Ridell’s latest letter to Susan Davey, CEO South West Water. This letter was written with the help of Peter Williams and the full text is reproduced below.
(That’s a 10 tonne road tanker very two hours 24/7 – Owl)
Full text:
Cllr Henry Riddell, well written Henry and this suggests that you have a clear understanding of the Budleigh issues. It’s important that that is the case as SWW are adept at pulling the wool over people’s eyes who are not properly informed. Because you clearly understand the situation you are more able to counter the misinformation and call for real change and action as you have.
You should also be aware that EACAPE met with EA last week and we learnt that the outfall from Lime Kiln is actually pumped (one of only seven pumped overflows in the south west). What this means is that the repeated one minute overflows which seem quite short and insignificant are actually one minute every hour pressurised overflows that effectively empty the sewage tank into the sea. So one minute bursts of up to 61 litres per second (to be confirmed) every hour.
SWW seem to be deliberately doing this to empty the tank as the pumps up to Maer Lane cannot cope with the ingress and the tankers only suck out at a much lower rate. The interim solution (last six months) seems to be to pump out to the sea but not to inform bathers of the volume of that pumping.
If you meet with Susan Davey or more likely a subordinate, you should raise this with them also.
SWW are on their back foot at the moment, it’s important to keep the pressure so thanks for doing that and best of luck.
Original letter from Henry Ridell:
Susan Davy, South West Water Limited, Peninsula House, Rydon Lane, Exeter EX2 7HR
25th July 2024
Dear Susan Davy,
Thank you for your letter dated 7 July 2024, I have several points that need further clarification and action.
Your statement about reducing storm overflows by around 30% in 2022 is misleading and exacerbates the trust issues that many in our community have with SWVs’. The reduction in 2022 was largely due to lower rainfall, not operational improvements. This is evident from the 2023 figures, where discharges in Budleigh tripled in quantity and doubled in hours compared to 2022. Such statements do little to rebuild trust when the data suggests otherwise. It makes it challenging to believe claims of being on track to meet targets. Figures I have quoted can be found here: fightingpoolution.com.
Regarding the meeting with SWW colleagues on 2 July in Budleigh Salterton, there were several short-term actions discussed that require updates:
I. Emergency Overflow (EO) Actions:
O Hazel was to confirm if there have been any discharges from the EO into Kersbrook since the end of July 2023.
O The continued high E-coli levels in Kersbrook (27,000 on 3 May and 18,000 on 15 May 2024) suggest a persistent source of contamination. We need SWW to monitor these levels, identify the type (human, animal. etc.), and determine the source. Installing continuous-monitoring sensors should be considered to aid this investigation.
2. Resolving Water Ingress at Lime Kiln:
O Immediate actions to fix major ingress sources in July were discussed, with a review to follow on the impact and disruption. We emphasized the importance of minimizing disruption during the peak holiday season and possibly pausing some works if necessary.
Proper traffic management plans need to be in place to avoid prolonged inconvenience. The sooner these actions commence, the quicker we can achieve a functioning sewage system, reducing sewage alerts and tanker traffic through the town, benefiting locals and visitors alike.
• We also need confirmation on whether tanker lorries can be routed around the town to prevent regular blockages on our main high street.
3. Communication Plan:
SWW agreed to provide regular updates to Budleigh residents on the actions being taken, including the rationale and timelines. A proposal was made for SWW to publish this information on an accessible web page. Confirmation on this is needed.
4. Sampling and WaterFit App:
o We requested sampling of water quality at the Lime Kiln end of the beach, but were informed this is the Environment Agency’s responsibility. Given SWW’s role in discharging sewage near this area, we urge SWW to provide relevant sampling data.
o We also suggested an improvement to the WaterFit app by including a ‘History’ button to display recent discharges for each overflow. While this feature is reportedly in development, we need clarity on when it will be available to the public.
Although the EO issues seem resolved, the ongoing CSO problems suggest that 2024 could be worse than 2023 without significant improvements. We are concerned that simply upgrading pumping systems to Maer Lane treatment works could result in larger volumes of sewage being discharged through SWW’s expanded outfall pipe during rainfall, potentially affecting Budleigh Salterton beach water quality.
To ensure the long-term plans meet the community’s needs, we request an independent review of the modelling data to confirm there will be no significant negative impact on Budleigh’s water quality, especially at Steamer Steps.
During subsequent meetings with SWW engineers, we have experienced inconsistent plans for dealing with the water ingress in the high street. Despite the promising discussions, I am not holding my breath for a timely solution. Just a week ago, SWW engineers dug up part of the bottom of the high street on a Friday afternoon and left it open all weekend, causing significant traffic problems. This kind of disruption further erodes trust and emphasizes the need for a more reliable and coordinated approach.
1 would like to invite you to visit Budleigh Salterton to meet me and discuss these matters in person. Your presence and engagement would demonstrate your commitment to rebuilding trust and addressing the concerns of our community. I believe this would be a significant step towards finding a solution that benefits everyone involved.
Thank you for your attention to these matters. I look forward to your prompt response and ongoing collaboration to address these critical issues.
Yours sincerely,
(Signed) Henry Riddell
East Devon District Councillor, Budleigh and Raleigh Ward, henry.riddellaeastdevon.gov.uk
East Devon Watch 