Public health warnings have been issued for Plymouth’s coastline after the Environment Agency (EA) identified significant operational failures at South West Water’s (SWW) treatment facility at Cattedown. Following a formal inspection on October 1 prompted by reports of pollution, the agency advised the public against swimming at Plymouth Hoe East and West due to an “unpermitted discharge of sewerage” from a storm overflow.
The discovery has sparked sharp condemnation from local leaders, coming just days after the water company was hit with a record-breaking £8 million fine for a series of environmental offenses spanning six years across Devon and Cornwall.
In a scathing response to the latest incident, Plymouth and Sutton Devonport MP Luke Pollard described the situation as a “dramatic failure” of the utility company to protect the city’s water quality. “I have asked South West Water for urgent answers and a clear plan to put this right,” Mr. Pollard stated. “South West Water should be in no doubt that the Government is serious about ending the sewage crisis, and if they can’t do it, then we will look at the new steps the Prime Minister announced only a few days ago to force them to do what is right.”
The sentiment was echoed by the leader of Plymouth City Council, Tudor Evans, who expressed disbelief that residents are being warned away from the water they use daily. “It’s time SWW shareholders called for action alongside politicians and the public,” Councillor Evans said. “They’ve lived high on the hog off the company’s poor performance and inadequate investment plans. It’s time to put us and the environment ahead of their dividends.”
The inspection by the Environment Agency identified critical operational flaws at the Cattedown site that allowed raw or improperly treated sewage to enter the Sound. While South West Water has confirmed it is investigating the discharge and working with regulators, the incident has reignited long-standing grievances regarding the utility’s infrastructure and transparency.
Last year, data analysis by the campaign group Top of the Poops identified Plymouth Hoe East—a popular spot for local swimmers, including the historic Tinside Beach—as the most polluted bathing area in England and Wales by the total duration of sewage overflows. Residents have also raised decades-old complaints regarding persistent odors from waste treatment plants in Plympton, Cattedown, and Ernesettle, often colloquially referred to by locals as “pongs.”
For the local swimming community, the news has caused significant distress. Many who rely on the Hoe for mental and physical well-being are finding their routine compromised by the deteriorating state of the local ecosystem. One swimmer remarked on social media that they could physically “taste the water quality issue” during their swims, highlighting the disconnect between the recreational value of the coast and the reality of the city’s aging waste infrastructure.
The Environment Agency has confirmed that it will keep the matter under active investigation, stressing that the company must resolve the site’s issues as a matter of urgency. Meanwhile, Plymouth City Council has pledged to hold the utility provider to account, placing the company’s resilience, investment plans, and environmental performance under intense scrutiny.
The latest discharge follows the company’s guilty plea to 17 illegal discharges involving more than 500 separate incidents, a record that has left many in the city questioning whether current regulatory measures are sufficient to curb the recurring pollution. As the investigation into the Cattedown site continues, the community remains in a state of alert, with access to the city’s most iconic swimming spots effectively closed until further notice.
Disclaimer: This content is auto-generated for informational purposes only.
Source: Read Original News
