Sewage spill alerts issued for North Devon beaches

Sewage spill alerts have been issued for several North Devon beaches, prompting worries about the environmental impact on the coast.

The warnings have been put out by the Safer Seas and Rivers Service, but South West Water says the issue is due to recent storms and heavy rain. 

The sewage pollution alerts cover Westward Ho!, Croyde Bay, Woolacombe Village, Ilfracombe Hele, and Combe Martin.

Safer Seas and Rivers Service has identified sewage pollution in these areas and is urging residents and beachgoers to exercise caution and stay informed.

In a statement, South West Water said: “We want our customers to know that we really care about reducing storm overflows and we are investing record amounts to do so."

“Our plan is working, and we are improving, but unfortunately there have been spills at beaches over the last week due to the very heavy, prolonged rainfall and stormy conditions.”

The company emphasised ongoing efforts, saying it had ‘100 per cent monitoring of storm overflows’ in place to target investments effectively.

South West Water has shed light on the Woolacombe issue, citing surface water overwhelming the sewer network from a private source. It said ‘collaborative efforts’ were underway to find a solution.

The utility company has highlighted storm overflows as crucial pressure relief valves, essential during heavy rainfall to prevent flooding.

It also explained that the region’s ‘exceptional bathing water quality’, achieving total positive coastal bathing water quality reports across 860 miles of coastline for three consecutive years, ‘is a significant improvement from the early 1990s’.