Sewage washed up on popular beach over Bank Holiday weekend

There was a risk of sewage harming children.

South West Water has been fined £60,000 after raw sewage washed up on a popular beach. 

The incident happened over Easter Bank Holiday 2017 at South Sands Beach in Paignton. 

Exeter Magistrates Court heard there was a very real risk of sewage harming children nearby and contaminating the bathing water.

A district judge said South West Water did not heed the Environment Agency’s warnings and guidance after a similar incident in 2012.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: “Water companies must carry out regular inspections and maintenance of their sewerage infrastructure and respond urgently to leaks, especially at beaches.

“On this occasion raw sewage leaked directly onto one of Devon’s most popular beaches over a busy Bank Holiday. There was a very real risk of sewage harming children nearby and contaminating the bathing water.

”The Environment Agency tests water quality at every official bathing water to ensure it is maintained and improved and we are committed to working with water companies, councils and local communities to keep our beaches clean, reduce pollution and protect the environment.”

South West Water has since replaced seals and covers on a number of manholes in the area. But the manhole where sewage seeped onto the beach was not sealed until a year later in April 2018. The court questioned why the manhole had not been sealed after the first incident in 2012.

In a statement, the company said: "South West Water accepts and apologises for sewage flooding from a manhole on South Sands beach, Salcombe, on 13 April 2017, caused by sand, stone and concrete blocking a sewer.

A technician was on site within two hours of the flooding being reported to us. We promptly notified the Environment Agency and cordoned off the manhole. 

Initial attempts to clear the blockage were unsuccessful and specialist jetting equipment was brought to site, but the work could not be completed safely until after high tide the following day.  

Since 2013, South West Water has spent £2.9million to reduce the risk of sand and saline infiltration in the Salcombe area and the manhole is now monitored weekly. 

Bathing water samples taken on 13 and 14 April 2017 indicated a localised and limited effect on bathing water quality at the south end of the beach but no environmental impact to the wider bathing water. Salcombe South Sands’ bathing water quality was rated ‘excellent’ at the end of the 2017 bathing season."

Appearing before Exeter magistrates, South West Water was fined £44,000 and ordered to pay £18,883.06 costs and £170 victim surcharge.