South West Water discharging illegal sewage

One of worst for 'dry-spills'

South West Water is the second worst company for injecting sewage into Britain's lakes, rivers and coastlines at times when the weather is relatively good.

Water companies are allowed a certain amount of discharge when it is too wet, but 'dry-spills' are illegal.

A new report from campaign group Surfers Against Sewage found evidence of people becoming sick from swimming in polluted water. 

Now Liberal Democrat MP for Tiverton & Honiton Richard Foord will seek to raise the report in parliament.

He says his son became ill after swimming in a local river this summer.

Mr Foord said: "Our children should not be getting sick from spending time in nature or building sandcastles next to sewage.

"This is an environmental scandal. I will be seeking to raise this report in Parliament today and calling on Ministers to explain why water companies are getting away with making these illegal 'dry spills'. 
 
"It is deeply shocking to hear people from across the South West, the Lake District and beyond have become sick from swimming in lakes and coastlines as a result of these 'dry spills'. My own son became ill swimming in a Devon river.
 
"Months of chaos in government and an ever-changing cast of environment secretaries has meant that instead of action taken to hold water companies to account, we have only seen empty threats from government. Those MPs who voted against a ban on these sewage discharges last year should hang their heads in shame. 
 
"The time is now to save Britain's wild swimming spots and wildlife. This is a wake-up call to Conservative ministers whose instinct is to do nothing."