Honiton and Sidmouth MP Richard Foord has asked the Environment Agency (EA) to review South West Water’s performance on the River Otter, warning of high phosphate levels, repeated permit breaches and delays to treatment upgrades.

Richard Torne www.midweekherald.co.uk

In a letter to area director Mark Rice following a joint meeting on October 20, he sought clarification on phosphate sources, the condition of the river, and the decision to remove a planned Honiton sewage treatment works (STW) upgrade from the 2025-2030 investment programme.

Foord’s office told this newspaper that SWW confirmed in October that “no phosphate-reduction schemes are currently planned before 2030”, despite earlier public statements about lowering phosphate in treated discharges.

The MP has written again to SWW chief executive Susan Davy asking for a detailed plan and calling for Honiton STW’s upgrade to be completed by 2030.

ORCA data gathered from bi-weekly water tests across 12 sites indicated phosphate concentrations double below the Honiton STW, adding that they remained above safe limits downstream.

Meanwhile, Devon Wildlife Trust and Westcountry Rivers Trust studies show the River Otter has at least twice the phosphate levels of other South West rivers.

The EA attributes 70 per cent of the phosphate load in the Middle and Lower Otter to SWW, while Honiton STW has breached its phosphate permit in three of the past six months.

East Devon District Council’s November Water Cycle Study reportedly found that the Honiton STW was exceeding its dry-weather treatment capacity by about 40 per cent, noting that it requires a 73 per cent increase to support planned housing growth.

Councillors have warned that development may have to be delayed unless capacity and phosphate removal improve.

In response, SWW said it is planning a phosphate-reduction scheme at Feniton before 2030 and is delivering “targeted interventions” as part of a £125 million programme in Honiton and Sidmouth.

In a statement, the company said: “Where our assets are not performing as they should, or where they are causing environmental harm, we will act.”